Cameroon President Paul Biya has approved another reshuffle of the country's military leadership while remaining outside the country for nearly two months, a move that is drawing renewed attention to the question of political continuity in Africa's second-longest-serving presidency.
A series of presidential decrees signed from Geneva, where the 93-year-old leader has been staying since 7 June, announced new appointments across the armed forces and promoted five colonels to the rank of brigadier general.
Among the most notable decisions was the reappointment of Raymond Jean Charles Beko'o Abondo as commander of the elite Presidential Guard, the unit responsible for protecting the head of state. Abondo has led the force since 2013 and was promoted to brigadier general under the latest decree.
Military reshuffles are not uncommon in Cameroon, but they have frequently coincided with periods of political sensitivity. Similar changes followed the 2023 military coup in neighbouring Gabon, which heightened concerns about regional stability, and were repeated before last year's presidential election, when Biya secured another term in office. Additional promotions within the defence and security forces were announced again in June. The latest appointments come as Biya's prolonged stay abroad continues to generate debate inside Cameroon. Although the presidency initially described the trip as a brief private visit, the president has continued to exercise his constitutional powers from Switzerland, signing official decrees and authorising government decisions, including international loan agreements.
The extended absence has also coincided with unfinished institutional reforms. Despite pledging to appoint a new government after last year's election, Biya has yet to announce a new cabinet. Likewise, the office of vice-president, created through constitutional changes earlier this year, remains vacant.
Government officials have repeatedly dismissed speculation about the president's health and insist that state institutions continue to function normally. Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi recently said Biya remains fully engaged in state affairs and is expected to return to Cameroon.
Opposition figures, however, argue that governing remotely for an extended period exposes weaknesses in the country's political system. They contend that the absence of both a new cabinet and a designated vice-president has intensified uncertainty over executive decision-making at a time when questions about succession have become increasingly prominent.
While the latest military appointments do not signal any immediate political change, they reinforce the central role of the armed forces in maintaining institutional stability during one of the longest periods President Biya has spent outside Cameroon since taking office in 1982.
