Cameroon’s 93-year-old president returns after a long stay abroad raises health concerns

President Paul Biya returned Thursday to Cameroon after staying abroad for more than two months, which had raised concerns about the 93-year-old leader’s health and a possible power vacuum in the Central African country.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — President Paul Biya returned Thursday to Cameroon after staying abroad for more than two months, which had raised concerns about the 93-year-old leader’s health and a possible power vacuum in the Central African country.

Biya arrived at the international airport in the capital, Yaoundé, aboard a flight from Geneva, Switzerland, after more than 10 weeks away.

The world’s oldest president, who has led Cameroon since 1982, began his eighth term in office in November after winning a widely disputed election in October.

Biya had left the country on June 7 for what his office described as “a brief private stay in Europe,” but it became the longest recorded absence of his presidency.

The health of the president has long been a topic of speculation as he spends significant time in Europe, including France and Switzerland, where he often spends weeks while leaving governance to key party officials and family members.