Is Paul Biya Dead? Cameroonian Government Breaks Silence
- Cameroon government officials said the central African state’s 91-year-old president, Paul Biya, is in good health, contrary to information circulating on social and mainstream media
- Legit.ng reports that Biya has not been seen in public since his official visit to China more than one month ago
- Biya is the oldest leader in the world and has ruled Cameroon for more than four decades
Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering global issues.
Yaounde, Cameroon - Cameroon's government has said President Paul Biya is not dead as claimed.
The rebuttal follows Biya's long absence from the central African country.
Source: Getty Images
Rumours had it that the 91-year-old was allegedly hospitalised at the Percy military hospital in Clamart, France.
The speculations reached a new peak on Tuesday, October 8, with the broadcast, by South African channel ABS Africa TV, of the announcement of the Cameroonian leader's death.
Legit.ng reports that Biya has served as president of Cameroon since 1982, having previously been the prime minister of Cameroon from 1975 to 1982.
Paul Biya: Govt fumes at death rumours
Amid the rife rumour which is trending on X (formerly Twitter), Rene Emmanuel Sadi, the government's spokesperson and minister of communication, quashed the reports.
He said in a statement read on state radio broadcaster.
“The President (Biya) is in good health and will be back in the country any moment from now."
In the same vein, The Africa Report quoted André Magnus Ekoumou, Cameroon’s ambassador to France, as saying Biya is in Geneva, Switzerland.
Contacted by Jeune Afrique on Tuesday, October 8, Ekoumou stated that “Biya has never been hospitalised in Clamart or anywhere in France”.
Expressing his displeasure at the spread of rumours, the diplomat stated that the president “is currently in Geneva”, adding that the nonagenarian is “in good health”.
Legit.ng reports that apart from Biya, Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, is another African leader who has dominated his country's political landscape for a long time. Kagame assumed power over two decades and is still ruling.
Paul Biya's daughter is homosexual
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Brenda Biya, the 27-year-old daughter of the president, publicly came out as a lesbian, hoping to inspire change in her country's laws banning same-sex relations.
In an interview with French media outlet Le Parisien, Brenda shared her desire to send a strong message and bring hope to those facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
