Cameroon's Biya, unseen for 58 days, reshuffles military leadership
The moves promote five colonels and replace commanders in four of five joint military regions as debate grows over Biya’s prolonged absence.
- On Monday, President Paul Biya issued decrees from Geneva reshuffling senior military staff, replacing commanders in four of Cameroon's five joint military regions and promoting the head of the Presidential Guard to brigadier general.
- Biya has remained in the Swiss city for nearly 60 days for what his team described as a "brief private stay," fueling speculation about his health and ability to govern from abroad.
- Opposition CRM party vice-president Mamadou Mota warned of a "glaring institutional vacuum," arguing that "Executive power is exercised at the heart of the nation, not through smoke signals or telepathy from hotel suites on the other side of the world."
- Communication Minister Emmanuel Sadi dismissed vacancy allegations during an interview with French-language broadcaster RFI, telling the outlet that "The president is alive" and will return soon.
- Such military shake-ups are not unusual under Biya, who previously restructured leadership following a coup in neighboring Gabon three years ago amid periods of intense public scrutiny.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Cameroon: Cameroon's Biya Reshuffles Military During 2-Month Absence
Cameroon President Paul Biya reshuffled the military command while abroad, replacing commanders in 4 of the country's 5 joint military regions and promoting the head of the Presidential Guard. The changes were made through 3 decrees signed on Aug. 3 and announced on state radio. Biya, 93, left Cameroon on June 7 for what his office called a private stay in Europe and had not returned when the decrees were announced.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya, 93, has not been seen in public for two months, but he has managed to reshuffle the military. He has appointed new people to key positions and promoted five colonels to brigadier generals. One of the newly promoted generals is Raymond Jean Charles Beko'o Abondo, who was immediately reappointed as commander of the elite presidential guard.
Cameroon president’s absence stirs health speculation
President Paul Biya’s shuffle of key army positions during a two-month absence from Cameroon has stoked fresh speculation about political stability in the cocoa and oil-producing nation.The absence of Biya, who at 93 is the world’s oldest president, has prompted renewed questions about his health. Opposition figures in Cameroon have called for the presidency to be declared vacant because he has not been in the country since June 7 — he is though…
The 93-year-old president left the country on 7 June for “a brief private stay in Europe” according to his office
The Toronto Star
Cameroon’s president draws concern and criticism by staying abroad for 2 months
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon President Paul Biya on Thursday reached two months since the last time he was inside the borders of his country, a prolonged absence that has raised concerns for his health and criticisms about a possible…
Associated Press News
Cameroon's president draws concern and criticism by staying abroad for 2 months
Cameroon's President Paul Biya has been abroad for two months, sparking criticism and concerns. At 93, Biya is the world's oldest leader who has ruled since 1982.
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