As speculation continues to swirl regarding the health of Cameroonian President Paul Biya, Cameroon’s ambassador to France, André Magnus Ekoumou, has confirmed that Biya is currently in Geneva.
For almost a month, rumors about the 91-year-old president’s health have spread widely, particularly after Biya canceled several key appearances, including at the United Nations General Assembly, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) summit, and the Sustainable Development Forum in Hamburg, Germany.
Amid reports from the Cameroonian diaspora that Biya had been hospitalized at the Percy military hospital in Clamart, France, the rumors escalated further on October 8 when the South African channel ABS Africa TV announced his death.
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Speaking with *Jeune Afrique* on October 8, Ekoumou denied these claims, stating, “Paul Biya has never been hospitalized in Clamart or anywhere in France.”
He expressed frustration at the spread of false information, confirming that the president “is currently in Geneva” and is “in good health.”
However, sources close to the presidency suggested that Biya is under medical supervision following complications from his diplomatic engagements in July and August.
Back in Cameroon, Labour and Social Security Minister Grégoire Owona addressed the rumors on his social media, condemning those spreading false reports of Biya’s death.
“Those attempting to deceive the public by announcing the president’s death must face serious consequences for such blatant lies. Democracy has limits, and malicious intent cannot go unpunished,” Owona stated.
Similarly, Jacques Fame Ndongo, Secretary for Communications of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement and Minister of Higher Education, released a statement dismissing the rumors as unfounded. He urged Cameroonians to stay calm and not be swayed by false reports, emphasizing that journalism should be based on facts, not fantasy.
On October 8, some political figures called for clarity from the presidential civil cabinet, led by Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, regarding Biya’s health and the potential for a power vacuum.
The Cameroon Democratic Union, led by MP Hermine Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya, urged the presidency or other relevant authorities to provide official information, citing concerns over Biya’s “prolonged absence” and calling for vigilance among the public.
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