Cameroon’s ruling party faces growing criticism over the prolonged absence of the president, the world’s oldest head of state who has been in power since 1982. It’s not the first time Biya’s disappearance has sparked questions: in 2024, he spent 42 days abroad, triggering rumors that he was actually dead. The government responded by banning public discussion of the president’s health.
Hard Numbers
Where is the world’s oldest head of state?
Will Fitzpatrick
By Will FitzpatrickJuly 22, 2026
Will Fitzpatrick
Will Fitzpatrick is a multimedia reporter and producer at GZERO, where he does a little bit of everything: writing for the GZERO Daily, creating social videos, producing GZERO World, and whatever else the news cycle throws his way.
Before GZERO, Will worked in documentary film on both the production and post-production sides, including on Everest: The Other Side and on The First Wave. He has also directed and produced two short documentaries of his own. Outside the film world, Will has worked as a freelance journalist, with reporting that has taken him from the dhow workshops of Oman to the mountains of Patagonia, with plenty of stops in between. He’s especially interested in the niche, hard-to-reach, and underreported stories that reveal something bigger about how the world works.
Will studied economics and world politics at Hamilton College and received his Master’s in journalism from New York University. When he's not reporting, you can likely find Will tending to his oyster farm, on a bike, or somewhere outdoors.
