Cameroon’s 93-year-old President Paul Biya has reorganized his inner security circle through a series of new military appointments. This move arrives amidst growing public speculation regarding his long absence from the nation.
A decree issued on August 3 designated 54-year-old General Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo as the commander of the presidential guard, marking the first time a general has held this specific position. He now leads one of four military units tasked with safeguarding the president.
Furthermore, Biya named army chief Hippolyte Ebaka as the chief of defence staff, positioning him as the second-in-command to the chief of the general staff, Rene Claude Meka. These changes occur while the president has remained out of public view for nearly two months, sparking concerns about his capability to govern. While government officials insist his health is stable and that he will return shortly, political opponents argue that his absence has left the country without effective leadership and stalled critical government transitions.
