YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state at 92, has officially declared his intention to run for an unprecedented eighth term in Cameroon’s upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 12, 2025. The announcement came via posts on the president’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday evening, with identical messages in both French and English.
“I am a candidate in the presidential election,” Biya wrote. “Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face.”
Biya has been in power since 1982, following the resignation of his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo. His nearly 43-year rule has been marked by political longevity unmatched on the African continent, but also by growing calls for change amid concerns over his health, democratic stagnation, and national security.
The president’s decision comes as little surprise to Cameroonians, with members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and loyalist organizations rallying for his continued leadership for over a year. However, his rare public appearances and prolonged absences—most notably a 42-day disappearance last year—have fueled speculation about his ability to govern.
While the government insisted he was in good health, it simultaneously banned public discourse around the president’s condition, declaring it a matter of national security.
Critics say Biya’s advanced age and decades-long grip on power are cause for serious concern.
“President Biya’s announcement to run again is a clear sign of Cameroon’s stalled political transition,” said human rights lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor. “After over 40 years in power, what the country needs is renewal – not repetition. Cameroonians deserve democratic change and accountable leadership.”
Several opposition leaders have also thrown their hats into the ring, including 2018 runner-up Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), longtime opposition figure Joshua Osih of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), respected lawyer Akere Muna, and Cabral Libii of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN).
All have criticized Biya’s enduring presidency, citing electoral manipulation, lack of reforms, and centralized power as key challenges to free and fair elections. Calls for an independent electoral commission and international oversight have grown louder in recent months.
In 2008, Biya controversially scrapped constitutional term limits, enabling him to run indefinitely. He secured re-election in 2018 with 71.28% of the vote—results opposition parties rejected amid claims of widespread irregularities.
Cameroon, a key cocoa and oil-producing nation in Central Africa, has been rocked by multiple security crises under Biya’s leadership. Armed conflict continues in the country’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, where separatists are fighting for independence from the Francophone-majority government. In the Far North, Boko Haram’s persistent presence continues to destabilize communities.
The country also faces economic strain, with youth unemployment and corruption contributing to mounting frustration among the populace.
Observers warn that should Biya’s health decline further, Cameroon could face a constitutional and political crisis. With no clear succession plan and only two presidents since independence from France and Britain in the 1960s, the stakes in this year’s election could not be higher.
As Biya seeks to extend his presidency into his late 90s, Cameroon finds itself at a political crossroads. While some praise the long-serving leader for maintaining relative national unity, others argue his continued rule is a symbol of Africa’s lingering struggles with democratic transition.
The international community, including regional blocs and human rights organizations, is closely watching developments in Yaoundé as the countdown to October 12 begins.
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