Cameroon Bans Any Talk About 91-year-old Biyas Health

Cameroon has outlawed any discussion about the health of 91-year-old President Paul Biya, a letter shared by the interior ministry said, after Biyas prolonged absence fuelled widespread speculation he was unwell.

Earlier this week, the authorities put out statements saying the president was on a private visit to Geneva and in good health, dismissing reports he had fallen ill as pure fantasy.

In the letter to regional governors dated Oct. 9, Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji said discussing the presidents health was a matter of national security.

From now on, any debate in the media about the presidents condition is therefore strictly prohibited. Offenders will face the full force of the law, Nji said.

He ordered the governors to set up units to monitor broadcasts on private media channels, as well as social networks.