Thousands gathered Monday on the streets of Yaounde, jockeying to catch a glimpse of Cameroon’s long-absent leader. Rumors about the death of 91-year-old President Paul Biya swirled after he disappeared from public view for over a month following an official visit to China.
Cameroon state radio reported that Biya, a few of his close advisers and his wife, Chantal Biya, are back in Yaounde after spending close to 50 days outside the central African state.
Biya's return was broadcast live on state television, which showed thousands of people at major junctions near Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport, where Biya landed.
Mbang Boniface, a 35-year-old chemistry teacher, was among the civilians gathered Monday — many of whom were anxious about Biya's mysterious absence. Mbang said he was surprised that the Cameroon government gave so much importance to Biya’s return without telling people where the president had been.
"You just wake up one morning to see this huge mobilization of workers, students, to receive somebody we've not known where he was, and this not only slows down economic activity, but slows down productivity," he said. "The citizens are worried if the president who is coming in is in good health or not. It is a shame."
Civilians said there was a huge military presence in Cameroon's capital when Biya arrived. The military said government troops were deployed to maintain peace and order, while soldiers of the presidential guard protected Biya personally, as tradition holds.
Hundreds of Biya's pictures with messages welcoming him back home were visible at several road junctions.
Biya, who looked old but strong, spoke with his advisers at the airport for about six minutes before leaving for Cameroon's presidential palace in a motorcade heavily protected by forces of the presidential guard.
Media outlets said they were surprised that Biya neither spoke with journalists nor made a statement about his protracted disappearance and rumored death.
Fru Jonathan, a member of Biya's ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement Party and one of his close collaborators, said media reports that civilians were either hired or intimidated to turn out en masse to welcome Biya were unfounded.
"Cameroonians in their vast majority love their president," Fru said. "After the wild rumor that circulated, our people [civilians] are happy to hear that President Paul Biya is coming back strong, and that he has been working out there, and that he is coming back to continue his duties in the country. Our wish is that President Paul Biya should continue to be healthy."
Supporters of the opposition Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, or CPNR, chanted slogans saying Biya was old and should hand over power.
Biya has been Cameroon’s president for more than four decades. He left the central African state on Sept. 4 for the Africa-China forum. After departing China on Sept. 8, he hadn’t been seen in public for more than a month, triggering speculation in news reports and social media posts that he might have died.
During that time, Cameroon’s government said Biya was in excellent health and working for the country's development in Geneva. The government said his plane left Geneva for Yaounde on Monday.
