Cameroon's Biya Absence Fuels Health Speculation and Institutional Vacuum Criticism

Cameroonian President Paul Biya's prolonged absence has fueled speculation about his health, which the government denies, and criticism over an institutional vacuum. Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi said Biya is alive and will return soon, but opposition CRM party vice-president Mamadou Mota called the situation a "glaring institutional vacuum, noting executive power should not be exercised "through smoke signals or telepathy from hotel suites. Biya has signed other decrees abroad, including loan agreements, but has yet to name a new cabinet or fill the vacant vice-presidency created in April.