Military shake-up comes as opposition questions Biya’s continued absence from Cameroon and ability to govern from Switzerland
AFRICA | ASAL POST
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon, August 5, 2026 – Cameroon President Paul Biya has announced a sweeping reshuffle of the country’s military leadership, appointing new commanders to key security positions and promoting several senior officers while remaining abroad for more than seven weeks.
The changes were announced through three presidential decrees signed on Monday, marking one of the most significant reorganizations of Cameroon’s armed forces in recent years.
Among the key appointments, Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General and reappointed as Commander of the elite Presidential Guard, the unit responsible for protecting the Head of State. He has led the force since 2013.
The presidential decree stated that Brigadier General Beko’o Abondo would continue serving as Commander of the Presidential Guard and would receive all benefits provided under existing regulations.
President Biya also appointed a new commander of the Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR), elevated Major General Ebaka Hippolyte to the Armed Forces General Staff, and approved a series of appointments within the Ministry of Defence. Several colonels were promoted to the rank of brigadier general, while commanders of motorised infantry brigades were reassigned.
The military reshuffle comes as President Biya remains outside Cameroon after departing for Switzerland on June 7 with First Lady Chantal Biya on what government officials described as a private visit.
More than seven weeks later, the Cameroonian government has not announced when the 93-year-old president is expected to return, making it one of his longest recorded absences from the country.
The prolonged stay abroad has reignited speculation about Biya’s health and capacity to govern, despite a government directive issued during a previous extended stay overseas in October 2024 banning public discussion of the president’s health.
Government officials insist that President Biya continues to discharge his constitutional duties from Switzerland and remains fully in control of state affairs.
However, opposition leaders have questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the president’s absence, arguing that the government has failed to explain why what was initially described as a short private trip has extended for several weeks.
Opposition figures have also raised concerns over the country’s governance during the prolonged absence, saying Cameroon faces pressing economic and social challenges that require leadership on the ground.
The latest military appointments are expected to strengthen the command structure of the armed forces as Cameroon continues to confront security threats, including separatist violence in its English-speaking regions and insurgent attacks linked to Boko Haram in the Far North.
