Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Mr Rene Sadi has finally disclosed the whereabouts of the nation’s Head of State, President Paul Biya, following days of speculations on the president’s state of health.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports Mr Sadi made the disclosure in a statement, saying the Cameroonian Head of State decided to have a brief private stay in Europe following an engagement in China.
Sadi in the statement released in French and translated into English using Google Translate, further disclosed that Biya will return to Cameroon in the next few days. He, however, did not reveal the country in Europe where Biya is having the brief private stay. Meanwhile, several reports suggest Biya is either receiving treatment in France or recovering in Switzerland.
The statement reads: “For several days, rumors of all kinds have been circulating through conventional media and social networks, on the state of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA.
“Television channels looking for a certain recognition within of public opinion, echo it with peremptory announcements, accompanied by comments all as tendentious as each other, but without any connection with the reality of the facts.
“The Government of the Republic states unequivocally that these rumors belong to the fantasy and pure imagination of their authors and intends here to provide a formal denial.
“The Government wishes to make it known that following the China-Africa in which he took an active part, the Head of State agreed a brief private stay in Europe.
“However, he remains, as usual, and wherever he is, attentive to the evolution of national life.
“Consequently, the Government of the Republic invites both Cameroonians as our partners and friendly countries, not to let ourselves distracted by maneuvers of disinformation, instrumentalization and of destabilization orchestrated by small groups and individuals pernicious, for ulterior purposes.
“Moreover, the Head of State is doing well and will return to Cameroon in the next few days.
There had been reports and rumours of Biya’s death had flooded the Internet. The Cameroonian Head of State, who is currently 91 years, has been in power since 1982. He was born on 13 February 1933.
Biya is Cameroon’s second Head of State. He came to power on 6 November 1982, following the resignation of President Ahmadou Ahidjo on 4 November.
He is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa, the longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world and the oldest head of state in the world.
