The Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) has called for greater clarity on how the country should be governed during prolonged absences of the President of the Republic, urging authorities to strengthen constitutional mechanisms that guarantee the continuity of the state.
In a statement signed by the party's National President, Hon. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, the CDU noted that President Paul Biya left Cameroon for a private visit to Europe on June 7, 2026, and that his continued absence has sparked questions among the public about the functioning of state institutions.
The party stressed that it does not intend to speculate on the President's personal situation or fuel rumours, saying respect for both the office of the President and its occupant requires restraint and responsibility.
However, the CDU argued that the stability of the Republic should not depend on silence or assumptions but rather on transparent, predictable and fully operational institutions.
According to the statement, while a prolonged absence from the national territory does not automatically create a vacancy in the Presidency, it raises legitimate concerns about the continuity of public administration, the effective exercise of presidential responsibilities and the mechanisms available in cases of temporary incapacity.
The party also referred to the constitutional revision of April 14, 2026, which reintroduced the office of Vice President. It said the current situation demonstrates the need to fully operationalise the constitutional changes by putting in place clear procedures governing the exercise of executive authority during periods of presidential absence.
To address what it describes as institutional gaps, the CDU proposed a number of reforms. These include establishing specific rules and timeframes for prolonged presidential absences, ensuring regular updates are provided to the nation and Parliament, publishing clear delegations of presidential powers whenever necessary, creating an impartial procedure for determining temporary or permanent incapacity, and adopting measures to prevent institutional paralysis.
"The goal is not to transform an absence into a political crisis, but to prevent a deficiency in our constitutional mechanisms from becoming an institutional crisis tomorrow," the statement reads.
The party further called on the competent authorities to provide the public with clarification on the effective continuity of the state, while urging political actors and institutions to work together in what it described as a republican spirit to strengthen Cameroon’s constitutional framework.
The CDU concluded that the debate goes beyond individual personalities or political affiliations, saying the issue concerns the permanence of the state, citizens' confidence in public institutions and the stability of the nation.
The statement comes amid ongoing public discussion surrounding the President's absence from the country, although the government has not indicated that there has been any interruption in the functioning of state institutions.
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