Yaoundé, Cameroon – Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, now aged 92, has officially announced his bid for an eighth term in office.
The announcement was made on national television and later confirmed by his party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), triggering a mix of celebration from loyalists and deep frustration from opposition leaders and youth activists who argue the country is long overdue for a generational transition.
President Biya, who first assumed office in 1982, is now one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. If re-elected in 2025, he would remain in power until at least 2032, extending his rule beyond 50 years.
For decades, Biya has maintained a tight grip on power through constitutional amendments, electoral reforms, and the occasional crackdown on dissent.
His continued candidacy raises questions about democratic renewal in a nation where two-thirds of the population is under the age of 30.
Reacting to the announcement, Maurice Kamto, Biya’s fiercest rival and leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), called the decision a national embarrassment and vowed to mobilize youth and civil society to demand leadership renewal.
“Cameroon is not a monarchy,” Kamto declared in a press statement. “We cannot be held hostage by one man’s refusal to pass the torch.”
Online, Cameroonian youth have taken to social media using hashtags like #BiyaMustGo, #CameroonDeservesBetter.
“I’m only 26. Paul Biya has been president longer than I’ve been alive,” wrote one user on X. “This is not democracy, it’s generational theft.”
Despite scarce public appearances, Biya has often dismissed concerns about his health and fitness to govern. However, critics point to his extended stays in Switzerland and limited public engagements as evidence of his weakening grasp on leadership.
Still, CPDM insiders say Biya remains the best hope for continuity and stability in a country that has grappled with separatist insurgencies in the Anglophone regions, economic stagnation, and youth unemployment.
The next presidential election is scheduled for October 2025. While Biya has never lost an election, allegations of electoral fraud, media suppression, and political persecution have marred most of his victories.
The African Union, international observers, and democracy watchdogs will likely monitor the lead-up to the vote closely, given the increasing domestic and international scrutiny.
Biya’s bid underscores a broader trend in African politics, where ageing leaders like President Yoweri Museveni cling to power amid growing demands for constitutional term limits and democratic reforms.
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