Cameroon has officially banned any discussion regarding the health of its 91-year-old President Paul Biya, following increasing speculation about his well-being.
A letter from Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji, dated October 9, confirmed the government’s stance, emphasizing that the president’s health is now classified as a matter of national security.
The directive follows Biya’s prolonged absence from the public eye, which fueled rumors that he was unwell. Earlier this week, authorities issued statements insisting that Biya was on a private trip to Geneva and was in good health, dismissing reports of his illness as “pure fantasy.”
The letter ordered regional governors to ensure media compliance, warning that “any debate in the media about the president’s condition is strictly prohibited,” and violators would face legal consequences. Additionally, the governors were instructed to establish monitoring units to oversee broadcasts on private media outlets and social media platforms.
This decision has raised concerns about press freedom in the country. Journalists and advocacy groups have criticized the move as an act of state censorship. Hycenth Chia, a journalist based in Yaoundé and host on Canal2 International, expressed frustration, noting, “The president is elected by Cameroonians, and it’s natural for them to be concerned about his whereabouts. We see open discussions about the health of leaders like Joe Biden, but here, it’s considered taboo.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also voiced its alarm, with Africa Program Director Angela Quintal calling the ban “outrageous” and an attempt to shield a crucial issue under the guise of national security.
President Biya has not been seen in public since attending the China-Africa Forum in Beijing in early September, and his absence from a recent summit in France has only heightened public curiosity. The media regulatory body, the National Communication Council, has yet to respond to the growing criticism.
Cameroon, a major cocoa and oil producer, faces a potential leadership crisis if Biya, who has ruled for over 40 years, becomes too ill to continue in office or passes away, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the nation.
