Paul Biya Is “In Good Health”: But Is Cameroon Doing Well?

On October 16, 2026, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, director of the civil cabinet at the presidency, denied a rumor of Paul Biya’s death to Jeune Afrique and said the president was “in good health” and working. His statement prompted questions about how the state is functioning: the last cabinet meeting chaired by Biya reportedly took place on October 15, 2015, and the vice-president post created in April 2026 to organize succession remains vacant. The head of the Constitutional Council changed within twelve days. On October 16, Fitch downgraded Cameroon’s rating from B to B-, explicitly citing succession uncertainty.