Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, now 92, remains the world’s oldest serving head of state, having ruled since 1982. He officially declared his candidacy for an unprecedented eighth term in the October 12, 2025 election, defying widespread concerns about his age and capacity to govern.
In a strategic move ahead of the vote, Biya recently reshuffled the military’s top brass promoting key figures while consolidating loyalty among senior commanders.
The election is set amid ongoing unrest from separatist conflicts in the Anglophone regions and a tense security landscape in the north.
The announcement has sparked a wave of criticism at home and abroad. Opposition groups, civil society activists, and even religious leaders have voiced frustration, citing deep-seated corruption, systemic electoral unfairness, and extreme inequality; an estimated third of Cameroonians live on under $2/day.
On social media and in independent outlets, debate rages over his health; rumors of poor fitness persist despite government assertions that he remains “in good health.”
Observers warn that the absence of a formal power transition plan could precipitate serious political instability.
With Biya’s grip fortified through military realignment, a decisive election outcome may be limited. Should he continue, critics caution that Cameroon’s already fragile democracy could collapse further, with the risk of post-election protests similar to those in Gabon in 2023.
International watchers suggest potential increased pressure from Western nations and regional bodies to support free, fair elections and prepare for a possible transition.
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