Cameroon’s government has imposed a ban preventing media outlets from discussing the health of President Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving leader, amid widespread rumours that the 91-year-old is seriously ill. According to a document obtained by AFP, the ban comes as concerns rise over Biya’s absence from public appearances since early September.
Dated October 9, the directive was signed by Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji and highlighted the sensitivity of the president’s health as a matter of national security. The document stated, “The head of state is the principal institution of the republic, and discussions regarding his health are a matter of national security.”
It also warned that any media outlet discussing Biya’s health would face legal consequences, instructing regional governors to set up monitoring units to track media content, including social media. “All discussion in the media on the president’s condition is therefore officially banned,” the document stated, stamped with a “highly urgent” notice to underscore the seriousness of the situation.
Biya, the world’s oldest serving leader, has ruled Cameroon for over 41 years. His recent absence from public view, including missing the United Nations General Assembly and a summit of French-speaking nations in Paris, has fuelled speculation about his health. His last public appearance was in September at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.
In response to the rumours, the president’s office issued a statement on Tuesday, assuring that Biya was in “excellent health” and dismissing the claims as “disinformation.” The statement added that Biya was currently working from Geneva and would return to Cameroon “in the coming days.”
Despite these reassurances, concerns persist due to Biya’s increasingly rare public appearances in recent years, which have been limited to pre-recorded speeches and occasional family photographs or videos alongside his wife, Chantal Biya.
This media ban reflects the fragile political climate in Cameroon, where Biya has maintained a tight grip on power since 1982. His long tenure is second only to Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who has ruled for 45 years.
