The Cameroonian presidency has debunked reports alleging that Paul Biya, the nation’s 91-year-old leader, is dead.

Biya’s health has been the subject of widespread speculation for nearly a month.

The Cameroonian president successively cancelled appearances at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) summit, and the Sustainable Development Forum in Hamburg, Germany.

The rumours reached a crescendo on Tuesday when ABS Africa TV announced the president’s death.

Biya has not been seen in public since leaving Beijing on September 8, after attending the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC).

He had been expected to return to Cameroon in mid-September after his stay in China.

Preparations for his arrival had been put in place but were later lifted when the president’s medical team advised him to remain in Switzerland.

Biya has regularly undergone medical care and extended periods of rest in Switzerland.

According to the Cameroon Intelligence Report, an online platform, the president has been battling heart problems and memory failure for many years.

The report added that Biya’s health was worsened by prostate cancer, which spread to other vital organs, eventually claiming his life over the weekend at a hospital in an uncertain location of Paris or Geneva.

‘BIYA IS ALIVE AND WELL’

However, Samuel Ayolo, the director of the presidency’s civil cabinet, issued a statement debunking Biya’s rumoured death.

“For some time now, some malicious people through social networks have tried to make people believe that the President of the Republic is seriously ill, or even passed away,” Ayolo said.

“The Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic wishes to reassure all our compatriots as well as the international community about the excellent state of health of the Head of State who works and goes about his business in Geneva from where he has never left since his arrival from Beijing.

“The Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic strongly condemns behaviors that abuse freedom of expression to try to disturb national and international opinion.”

Biya has been a significant figure in Cameroonian politics, serving as president since 1982.

He is one of the longest-serving leaders in the world and the oldest head of state in Africa, having been in power for over four decades.

Biya has been re-elected six times, often amid allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities. The 91-year-old has also been labelled a dictator and has been accused of impoverishing Cameroon.

Last year, the president reshuffled his ministry of defence as coups ravaged neighboring Sahelian countries.

Without a clear transition plan in place, analysts say his demise may trigger a coup in the French-speaking nation.

Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s vice-president, is dealing with impeachment proceedings from the national assembly over allegations of supporting the violent anti-government protests that rocked the East African nation in June.

Gachagua is also accused of involvement in corruption, practising ethnically divisive politics, and other activities inconsistent with his office.

Lawmakers said the vice-president amassed assets worth 5.2 billion shillings ($40 million) since the last election, with an annual salary of $93,000.
Among the listed assets was Kenya’s renowned Treetops Hotel.

Gachagua said his wealth is through legitimate business deals and an inheritance from his late brother.

After the protests, President William Ruto sacked most of his cabinet and brought in members of the main opposition.

Gachagua’s impeachment proceedings were initiated a week ago by Ruto’s allies.

The vice-president prayed the high court to halt the proceedings but his request was declined.
On Sunday, during a prayer meeting at his residence, Gachagua implored Ruto, legislators, and Kenyans to forgive him for any wrongdoing.

On Monday, he clarified that his apology was not an admission of guilt and quelled resignation rumours.

Gachagua also accused the legislator who drafted the motion of lying, calling it “shameful and sensational”.

Legislators are expected to debate the motion on Tuesday afternoon and hold a vote before the motion proceeds to the senate.

The deputy president said he would prosecute his defence.

Israel Katz, Israeli foreign minister, has announced a ban preventing Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations (UN), from entering the country.

In an X post on Wednesday, Katz termed Guterres “undesirable”.

“I decided today to declare U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres an undesirable personality in Israel and to ban his entry into Israel,” Katz said.

Guterres failed to “unequivocally condemn Iran’s criminal attack on Israel” on Tuesday, Katz said, and as a result “does not deserve to set foot on Israel’s soil.”

Iran said its missile attacks on Israel was retaliation for the deaths of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader; Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political leader; and Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Israeli air strikes killed those three figures in recent times, tipping the region closer toward a multi-front crisis.

After Iran fired missiles at Israel, Gutteres condemned the broadening of the Middle East conflict.

“This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” the UN chief said.

Katz accused Guterres of giving “support to the terrorists, rapists and murderers of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and now to the mother ship of global terrorism, Iran”.

“Israel will continue to protect its citizens and maintain its status and national honor with or without Antonio Guterres,” the foreign minister added.

Banning the UN chief from entering the country marks a major escalation in tensions between Israel and the global body.

Several UN officials were also banned from entering Israel in recent months, including Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for Palestinians, and the UN humanitarian office chief in occupied Palestinian territory.

Israel has also attacked the credibility of the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees.

It is not immediately clear if Katz has the authority to bar Guterres from the country. In most climes, such authority would lie only with the interior minister.