Calls grow for information on health of Cameroon’s leader

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON — 

Concern is increasing successful Cameroon astir 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who has not been seen successful nationalist for much than 40 days.

Biya has not yet returned to Cameroon much than a week aft authorities officials said helium would beryllium backmost from Geneva, pursuing rumors of his death. Several groups accidental Biya's agelong lack suggests helium is not steadfast capable to beryllium president.

Biya was past seen successful nationalist connected September 8, portion leaving Beijing, wherever helium attended the Africa-China forum successful the institution of satellite leaders, a fewer of his collaborators and his wife, Chantal Biya.

Civilians accidental they fishy Biya is not successful bully wellness and is receiving attraction wherever helium is.

Opposition and civilian nine groups accidental Biya should beryllium successful the state to pb the federation amid aggregate challenges, including a prolonged separatist situation that has claimed much than 6,000 lives successful the country's occidental regions.

Government troops are warring Boko Haram terrorists connected the bluish borderline with Chad and Nigeria, and rebels are fleeing to eastbound Cameroon from equipped conflicts successful the neighboring Central African Republic.

Tamfu Richard, a quality rights lawyer and a subordinate of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation, oregon CPNR, said helium has delivered a petition to National Assembly Speaker Cavaye Yeguie Djibril to pass Cameroon's law assembly of what helium says is simply a vacancy created by Biya's absence.

"I americium simply requesting the president [speaker] of the National Assembly to workout a law right, which is to notation the vacancy [Biya's agelong absence] to the law council,” Richard said. “According to the [Cameroon] constitution, the spot of institutions is successful Yaounde, and if the president of the republic is retired of Cameroon, not connected an authoritative sojourn oregon for justifiable reasons, it could beryllium that the president of the republic has absconded from his spot of work."

VOA could not independently verify if Richard’s petition has been received by the talker of the nationalist assembly, but copies of the papers person been wide circulated connected societal media.

On October 9, authorities officials said societal and mainstream media reports that Biya was dormant were unfounded. They said Biya was live and successful fantabulous wellness and was to instrumentality to Cameroon soon.

When reports aired calling for Biya's whereabouts to beryllium made nationalist and saying civilians privation to spot their president, Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji banned the media from discussing Biya's health. Nji ordered authorities to show each media to marque definite violators are charged for illegally discussing apical information issues.

Ndi Eugene Ndi, president of the Yaounde section of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, oregon CAMASEJ, says astir media disregard the ban.

"The property should beryllium escaped to speech astir the president’s health,” Ndi said. “The citizens person to cognize wherever the president is done the media."

Biya has ruled Cameroon for much than 4 decades. Opposition parties accidental helium rules with an robust fist and wants to support powerfulness until helium dies. Biya has ever claimed helium won each elections aft helium constitutionally took powerfulness from Ahmadou Ahidjo, Cameroon’s archetypal president, successful 1982. Ahidjo resigned aft complaining of his failing health.