Cameroon’s government has officially prohibited media discussions on the health of President Paul Biya, according to a document obtained by AFP.
The ban comes as rumors circulate that the 91-year-old leader, Africa’s second-longest-ruling president, is gravely ill.
Biya, currently the world’s oldest head of state, has not made a public appearance since early September.
This absence has intensified speculation online about his health, with many questioning his ability to continue leading the nation.
A document signed by Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji, dated October 9, emphasized that discussions about the president’s health are a matter of national security.
It stated, “The head of state is the principal institution of the republic, and discussions on his condition are a matter of national security.”
The directive, stamped “highly urgent,” warns that anyone violating the media ban will face legal consequences.
It also instructed regional governors to establish “monitoring cells” to track media content, including activity on social media platforms.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for over 41 years, ranks second in Africa for the longest presidency, trailing only Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power for 45 years.
The president’s last known public appearance occurred at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing last month. He missed the United Nations General Assembly in New York and a summit of French-speaking countries in Paris afterward.
Despite the swirling rumors, the Cameroonian government issued a statement on Tuesday asserting that Biya is in “excellent health.” A spokesperson dismissed the speculation as “disinformation” and assured that the president is working from Geneva. The statement added that Biya is expected to return to Cameroon “in the coming days.”
In recent years, Biya’s public appearances have become increasingly infrequent, typically limited to pre-recorded speeches and family photos with his wife, Chantal Biya.
