World’s oldest president reshuffles army as his absence stokes unease

Cameroon’s veteran leader Paul Biya – who has not been seen in public for nearly two months – has reshuffled the country’s military amid growing concerns over his prolonged stay abroad. After an unexpected coup three years ago in neighbouring Gabon, which toppled the Bongo dynasty sending shockwaves across the continent, Cameroon immediately reshuffled its military leadership. Then, while running for a controversial eighth term in power at last year’s presidential election, Biya reshuffled the top brass of the army.

Biya made the appointments in separate decrees on Monday from the Swiss city of Geneva, where he has been staying since leaving Cameroon on 7 June for what his team described as a “brief private stay”. Many in Cameroon have criticised the lack of information about his activities and the uncertainty surrounding the duration of his foreign trip.