Cameroon President Paul Biya./FILE
Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, has announced that he will seek an eighth term in office in the country’s upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 12, 2025.
Biya made the announcement on Sunday night through a bilingual message on social media, declaring his continued commitment to lead the nation through what he described as challenging times.
“Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” he posted.
Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world. His decision to run again extends a presidency that has already spanned over four decades, a tenure marked by a mix of political dominance and deep controversy.
The Cameroonian constitution was amended in 2008 to remove presidential term limits, enabling Biya to run indefinitely.
At the time of his 2018 re-election, Biya secured more than 70 percent of the vote, though the election was marred by low turnout and widespread allegations of fraud.
That vote also took place against the backdrop of an escalating separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions, which continues to displace communities and disrupt education and economic activity.
Concerns over Biya’s health have loomed large in recent years. Last year, a 42-day absence from public view triggered a flurry of rumors about his death.
The government dismissed the claims and warned that speculation about the president’s health constituted a national security threat.
Critics argue that Biya's prolonged absences from the country—often to Europe—raise legitimate questions about his capacity to govern effectively at his advanced age.
His announcement comes as several former allies and opposition leaders prepare to challenge him at the ballot.
Among them is Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former minister now running under the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon, and Bello Bouba Maigari, who once served in Biya’s cabinet but is now a presidential candidate under the National Union for Democracy and Progress.
Other expected contenders include Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, Social Democratic Front's Joshua Osih, lawyer and activist Akere Muna, and Cabral Libii of the PCRN party. Many of them have called for major electoral reforms and a more transparent, inclusive political environment.
Cameroon’s upcoming vote is set against a backdrop of multiple national challenges, including the unresolved Anglophone conflict, a persistent threat from Boko Haram in the north, and growing public dissatisfaction with governance and economic conditions.
As the country prepares to submit final candidacy applications before the July 21 deadline, all eyes are on whether this election will cement the status quo or mark the beginning of political transition in one of Central Africa’s most tightly held regime
