Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, who is 92 years old, announced Sunday that he will run for an eighth term in the upcoming October elections. This announcement comes after widespread speculation that the aging leader might step down, setting the stage for a significant electoral contest.
Biya is Africa’s second-longest-serving head of state after Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea. Frequently ill and often receiving medical treatment abroad, rumors of his death circulated last year but were publicly denied by government officials. Since gaining power in 1982, Biya has been the country’s second president since Cameroon’s independence from France in 1960.
In a social media post, Biya expressed confidence about the future, stating, “Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us,” signaling his intent to continue governing.
Biya’s more than four decades in office have left a profound mark on Cameroon. His administration has been challenged by corruption allegations and an ongoing secessionist conflict in the nation’s English-speaking regions. This conflict has disrupted education for thousands of children and sparked violent confrontations between separatists and security forces.
Human rights advocate and lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor commented that Biya’s decision to run again highlights Cameroon’s stalled political progress. He emphasized that after more than 40 years in power, the country needs renewal and democratic change rather than a continuation of the status quo.
Cameroon also faces security threats from Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group operating in neighboring Nigeria, which has contributed to regional instability.
In recent weeks, several of Biya’s longtime allies have broken ranks to declare their own presidential bids, indicating a more competitive race. Biya won the 2018 election with over 70% of the vote, although the process was criticized for irregularities and was marred by low voter turnout due to ongoing separatist and extremist violence.
Across Africa, a trend of entrenched leaders seeking to extend their rule persists. For instance, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is currently pursuing nomination for a seventh term, which would bring him closer to five decades in power.
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