92-Year-Old Paul Biya Wins Cameroon’s Presidential Election, Extending His 43-Year Rule Amid Calls for Change
President Paul Biya, aged 92, has once again secured re-election as Cameroon’s Head of State, extending his remarkable 43-year rule after being declared winner of the country’s 2025 presidential election.
The Constitutional Council of Cameroon announced Biya’s victory on Monday, confirming that the incumbent received 53.66% of the total votes cast, defeating his closest challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who polled 35.19%. The election, held on October 12, 2025, was marred by low voter turnout, particularly in conflict-affected regions, and allegations of irregularities that opposition parties claim undermined the credibility of the results.
The Council’s President, Clement Atangana, declared:
“Hereby proclaimed President-elect: the candidate Biya Paul.”
This declaration effectively extends Biya’s leadership until 2032, by which time he would be 99 years old, assuming no constitutional or political changes occur.
Paul Biya’s political journey is a remarkable story of endurance and control. Rising to power in 1982 following the resignation of his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo, Biya has remained at the helm of Cameroon’s political and administrative systems for more than four decades. Under his rule, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has maintained an almost unshakable grip on power through successive electoral victories.
While supporters hail him as a symbol of national stability and continuity, critics argue that his tenure has entrenched authoritarianism, stifled dissent, and crippled democratic growth.
Biya’s re-election marks yet another chapter in Cameroon’s ongoing struggle with issues of democracy, governance, and human rights. Despite widespread international concern about the credibility of elections in Cameroon, the government insists that the 2025 polls were “peaceful, transparent, and credible.”
Interestingly, Biya’s challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, performed strongly among Cameroonian diaspora communities across Europe, North America, and Asia. Reports show that Tchiroma captured:
- 62.79% of votes in Europe
- 66.75% in the Americas
- 68.21% in Asia and the Middle East
Across Africa, Tchiroma also led with 54.99%, signaling a generational and ideological divide between domestic and diaspora Cameroonians. However, the Constitutional Council clarified that the overall election result is based solely on total votes within Cameroon, not the diaspora tallies.
Observers note that voter apathy was particularly high among Cameroonians abroad, with over 50% abstaining, reflecting widespread disillusionment about the possibility of change through the ballot box.
In a press conference following the announcement, opposition leaders rejected the results, describing them as a “constitutional coup disguised as an election.”
Issa Tchiroma, the former Minister of Employment and one-time government spokesperson who defected earlier in 2025 to lead a broad-based coalition, accused the CPDM of vote manipulation and intimidation. He alleged that opposition monitors were denied access to polling stations in several districts, particularly in the Anglophone regions of the country.
“What we witnessed was not an election but a well-orchestrated charade. The people’s will has been stolen once again,” Tchiroma declared.
Human rights organizations and several local observers echoed these sentiments, citing restricted press freedom, security threats, and selective arrests of opposition activists in the run-up to the vote.
At 92, Biya remains the oldest serving head of state in the world and one of the most enigmatic figures in African politics. His health and physical stamina have become matters of public debate, particularly as he spends considerable time abroad, often in Switzerland.
Nevertheless, his supporters describe him as a master of political survival. Through a combination of loyal patronage networks, constitutional reforms, and strategic reshuffles, Biya has neutralized rivals and ensured a steady hold on power.
He abolished presidential term limits in 2008, a move that cleared the path for indefinite re-election and consolidated his control over Cameroon’s executive and military apparatus.
Cameroon remains divided along multiple lines — linguistic, regional, and generational. The Anglophone crisis, now in its eighth year, continues to claim lives and displace thousands, with armed separatist groups fighting for independence in the Northwest and Southwest regions.
Analysts warn that Biya’s re-election is unlikely to bring any meaningful policy shift toward resolving the crisis. Instead, many expect the status quo of military suppression and political inertia to persist.
Dr. Marie-Therese Mbela, a political analyst at the University of Douala, told AfricaNow News:
“Cameroon is a country yearning for renewal, but trapped in a cycle of leadership continuity. Biya’s latest victory is not just about votes — it’s about the architecture of control that has been built over decades.”
The youth population, which forms over 60% of Cameroon’s 28 million citizens, has shown growing frustration over unemployment, corruption, and lack of innovation in governance. Despite several government programs, the economy continues to struggle under heavy debt and limited diversification.
Reactions from across Africa have been mixed. Some leaders, including those from Central African states, congratulated Biya, emphasizing regional stability and continuity.
However, Western nations and civil society organizations have expressed concern over the transparency of the electoral process. The European Union Election Observation Mission released a preliminary statement urging Cameroon to “strengthen electoral institutions, ensure independent monitoring, and guarantee the safety of political actors.”
The United States Department of State, while refraining from directly criticizing the results, noted the need for political inclusivity and reconciliation in the Anglophone regions.
Paul Biya’s political longevity has often been attributed to a careful balancing act — combining authoritarian control with selective reform. He has maintained loyalty within the military and civil service through patronage, while presenting an image of calm authority in public.
His government has survived multiple crises, including economic downturns, terrorist threats from Boko Haram in the north, and the ongoing separatist war in the west.
Yet, critics argue that Biya’s rule has also produced deep-rooted institutional decay. Public infrastructure in many regions remains underdeveloped, and corruption is endemic, with Cameroon consistently ranking among the lowest on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
With Biya’s advanced age and the absence of a clear successor, speculation is mounting over who might eventually take the reins. His son, Frank Biya, has been rumored to harbor political ambitions, though no official statement has been made.
Within the CPDM, power struggles are quietly brewing. Insiders suggest that several senior figures, including long-serving ministers and security chiefs, are positioning themselves for a post-Biya era.
International observers warn that a sudden leadership vacuum could destabilize the nation if not properly managed.
For many Cameroonians, the announcement of Biya’s re-election brought a sense of déjà vu rather than celebration. In the bustling streets of Yaoundé and Douala, reactions ranged from resignation to muted protest.
“I was not surprised,” said Gerard Tamba, a taxi driver in Douala. “We all knew the outcome before election day. Cameroon has changed presidents only once since independence. That says it all.”
Others, however, expressed cautious optimism, hoping that Biya’s renewed mandate might encourage stability and incremental reform.
“Maybe the old man still has a plan for us,” said Clarisse Mbango, a student at the University of Yaoundé. “But we, the youth, want our time. We can’t wait another seven years.”
As Biya prepares for another term, Cameroon’s future remains uncertain. The challenges are formidable: restoring peace in the Anglophone regions, revitalizing a stagnant economy, and rebuilding public trust in democratic institutions.
Whether Biya will rise to meet these challenges or continue to rely on the familiar politics of control remains to be seen.
For now, one thing is certain — Paul Biya’s name will remain etched in history as one of Africa’s most enduring leaders, a man whose rule has shaped generations and whose shadow will loom large over Cameroon’s political landscape for years to come.