Cameroon Votes As 92-Year-Old Biya Seeks Eighth Term

Cameroon headed to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes presidential election expected to hand another term to 92-year-old Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state. Biya, who has ruled the Central African country since 1982, faces 11 challengers but remains the overwhelming favourite to retain power.

More than eight million Cameroonians are eligible to vote in the one-round election, with polling stations open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm local time. For most voters, half of whom are under 20, Biya is the only president they have ever known.

A Familiar Contest

Biya’s long-standing dominance has defined Cameroon’s political life for more than four decades. Over the past 20 years, he has won every election with over 70 percent of the votes. Analysts say his control over the ruling machinery makes the outcome largely predictable, though recent weeks have seen a more energetic campaign than usual.

According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the contest feels more alive than in previous years, with a handful of opposition candidates managing to stir public attention. Still, he warned that the incumbent’s political structure remains too entrenched to be easily displaced.

Biya maintained his typically low profile throughout the campaign, appearing publicly for the first time since May at a rally in Maroua, the Far North region that holds about 1.2 million registered voters. The area, once a Biya stronghold, now hosts several of his former allies who have turned opponents.

His most prominent challenger is Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a 79-year-old former employment minister who resigned from Biya’s government in June to run as an opposition candidate. Bakary’s campaign, particularly in his home region of Maroua, drew crowds far larger than the incumbent’s. Supporters hailed him as “the saviour,” raising hopes among reform-minded Cameroonians for the first time in years.

Cameroon’s 92-Year-Old President Paul Biya Returns To Campaign

Another key opposition figure, Maurice Kamto, who placed second in the 2018 election, was barred from contesting this year by the Constitutional Council, a decision that rights groups such as Human Rights Watch say further undermines the credibility of the vote.

Youth Frustration and Economic Strain

Cameroon’s economy is one of the most diversified in Central Africa, rich in agriculture and natural resources. Yet poverty and unemployment remain high. World Bank data shows that 40 percent of Cameroonians live below the poverty line, while urban joblessness hovers around 35 percent.

For many young voters, the election offers little promise of change. They have grown up under Biya’s rule, witnessing decades of rising living costs, limited access to clean water and healthcare, and an education system struggling to keep pace with population growth.

Akoa noted that while young people are increasingly vocal online about their frustrations, they have not mobilized en masse like their counterparts in other African nations. “There is a positive sign of change,” he said, “but perhaps not strong enough to bring people to the streets.”

The government has authorized 55,000 domestic and international observers to monitor the vote, including representatives of the African Union. However, civil society groups remain skeptical of transparency. Some independent digital platforms have announced plans to tally votes themselves, a move the government condemned as an attempt to manipulate public opinion.

Conflict Shadows The Vote

Sunday’s election also unfolds under the shadow of a long-running conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. Since 2016, separatist forces have clashed with government troops in a crisis that has displaced thousands and left hundreds dead.

Turnout in these areas was especially low during the 2018 election, and security fears persist this year despite government assurances.

The Constitutional Council has until October 26 to declare the final results, but few expect surprises. If re-elected, Biya would extend his rule well into his tenth decade, reinforcing his reputation as one of Africa’s last enduring strongmen.