Biya’s 46-Day Absence: Osih Accuses Government of Contempt

The prolonged stay of President Paul Biya abroad has triggered fresh controversy, with Social Democratic Front (SDF) National Chairman Hon. Joshua Osih accusing the government of failing in its duty to keep Cameroonians informed.

Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, July 23, in Yaoundé, Osih described the continued silence surrounding the President’s 46-day absence as “indecent and contemptuous”, insisting that citizens deserve an official explanation.

While acknowledging that the Constitution does not set a time limit for the President’s stay outside the country, the SDF leader argued that public accountability remains a fundamental obligation of the Head of State.

“Although no constitutional provision sanctions the duration of stay abroad by the President of the Republic, the SDF finds it indecent and contemptuous that no official communication has informed the people of the reasons for the extension of the President’s short private stay abroad,” Osih said.

He stressed that the President of the Republic, by virtue of his office, remains accountable to the nation and cannot be detached from the responsibilities that come with leading the State.

The opposition leader also launched a broadside against the CPDM-majority Parliament, accusing it of using its numerical advantage to block opposition initiatives and strengthen the concentration of power around President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982.

Osih revealed that the SDF submitted five private members’ bills during the June parliamentary session, including proposals aimed at enforcing asset declarations under Article 66 of the Constitution and reinforcing legal measures against femicide, infanticide and sexual violence.

The controversy has since attracted reactions from other opposition figures. Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) National President Hermine Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya called for greater institutional transparency, warning against allowing uncertainty to replace established mechanisms of governance.

In an official statement, Ndam Njoya said the CDU would not engage in speculation over the President’s personal situation or health but insisted that state stability must rely on institutions and clear procedures.

She called on the government to provide greater clarity on the continuity of state affairs during the President’s prolonged absence.

Ndam Njoya also called for the appointment of a Vice-President following the April 2026 constitutional reform that reintroduced the position, arguing that it would provide a clearer framework for state continuity.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Hon. Jean Michel Nintcheu has called on the Constitutional Council to examine the situation, arguing that the President’s absence, which began on June 7 and was initially described as a “short private stay in Europe”, has gone beyond what could be considered a normal trip.

The renewed political debate comes amid growing calls from opposition leaders for greater transparency and clearer constitutional mechanisms regarding presidential absences.

By Lasha Kingsly