Cameron: Talking about Paul Biya's Life is Prohibited

The government of Cameroon has halted public conversations about President Paul Biya's life, even as rumors about him continue to circulate among the people.

Since the beginning of this week, there have been reports on social media that President Biya is dead. The government of Cameroon in a statement said that the 91-year-old President Biya is in the hospital, but that he is in good condition.

The Ministry of Internal Security in Cameroon, in a letter to the governors of the provinces, said that discussing President Biya's life is a national issue.

Acting Minister Paul Atanga told the Governors: "Starting today, any debate in the newspapers about the life of the President is strictly prohibited. Those who violate it will face the force of the law."

All Cameroon governors have been asked to set up teams to monitor those who violate the established guidelines, both on social media and in the media.

why all of this? who is Biya?

Paul Biya was born on February 13, 1933, in Mvomeka’a. He began his ascent in government in the 1960s and served as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975, then as Prime Minister from 1975.

Until he succeeded President Ahmadou Ahidjo in 1982. This transition came after Ahidjo's unexpected resignation, and Biya has been in power ever since, making him one of the longest-serving non-royal heads of state in the world at the age of 91.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon was last seen in public at the Africa-China Summit on September 4, 2024. Since then, his absence has sparked widespread rumors and speculation about his health and whether he has passed away.

Despite these rumors, the Cameroonian government has consistently stated that President Biya is alive and well, currently taking a private stay in Europe