Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state at 92, has officially announced his candidacy for an eighth presidential term in the upcoming election scheduled for October 12, 2025.
Biya made the declaration on Sunday via posts on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, writing in both French and English:
“I am a candidate in the presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face.”
If re-elected, Biya could remain in power until nearly 100, extending a tenure that began in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. His announcement, while widely anticipated, ends months of speculation—particularly amid concerns about his health, which has drawn attention after multiple unexplained absences, including a 42-day disappearance from public view last year.
The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) had repeatedly urged him to run again, but opposition leaders and civil society groups are calling the move a blow to democracy.
“After over 40 years in power, what the country needs is renewal – not repetition,” said Nkongho Felix Agbor, a prominent human rights lawyer. “Cameroonians deserve democratic change and accountable leadership.”
Critics argue Biya’s long rule has stifled democratic development and institutional transparency in the Central African nation. He scrapped term limits in 2008, enabling him to seek re-election indefinitely. In 2018, Biya won re-election with 71.28% of the vote amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud.
The political opposition remains fragmented, though key figures have declared their intention to run, including:
- Maurice Kamto (Cameroon Renaissance Movement), Biya’s closest challenger in 2018
- Joshua Osih (Social Democratic Front)
- Cabral Libii (Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation)
- Akere Muna, veteran lawyer and former anti-corruption advocate
Cameroon continues to face significant national challenges, including:
- A violent Anglophone separatist conflict in the southwest and northwest regions
- Repeated Boko Haram incursions in the north
- Persistent economic instability, despite its cocoa and oil wealth
Observers warn that if Biya becomes too ill or dies while in office, Cameroon could face a destabilizing succession crisis, given the lack of a clear and credible transition plan.
As Biya seeks to extend his already 43-year-long rule, questions over legitimacy, leadership capacity, and the democratic future of Cameroon loom large over the 2025 presidential race.
