The changes come amid mounting concerns over President Paul Biya’s prolonged absence from Cameroon, now approaching two months. The president left the country on June 7 for what authorities described as a “private visit” to Europe, though no official confirmation of his return date has been provided.

Among the newly appointed figures, General Ebaka Hypolite has been named Major General of the Armed Forces at age 73, while retaining his position as Major General of the Land Forces. This appointment places him second in command of Cameroon’s defense structure, directly under Chief of Staff General René Claude Meka.

The president’s latest decree reinforces the security apparatus surrounding Cameroon’s leadership, with four generals now overseeing the president’s protection units. These personnel changes signal an intensified focus on presidential security during a period of extended national uncertainty.

The absence of President Biya, now 93 years old and in power since 1982, has intensified public debate about his capacity to continue governing. Opposition figures have sharply criticized what they describe as a dangerous “institutional void,” with calls for the appointment of a vice president and new government remaining unanswered for months.

Government officials have repeatedly dismissed concerns about the president’s health, insisting he will return shortly and that there is no deterioration in his condition. Despite these assurances, the extended absence has fueled speculation and raised questions about the country’s political future.