Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has officially announced his intention to seek an eighth term in office, setting the stage for a highly anticipated election on October 12.

The 92-year-old, who holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest sitting head of state, shared the news on Sunday through posts on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account in both English and French.

“I am running in the presidential election,” Biya wrote. “Know that my resolve to serve you is equal to the urgency of the challenges before us.”

If successful, the move could see Biya remain in power into his late 90s. He first assumed leadership in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo.

His decades-long rule has drawn both strong loyalty from supporters and fierce criticism from opponents who accuse him of stalling democratic growth and suppressing dissent.

Speculation over Biya’s health has become a recurring theme in recent years. Most notably, in 2023, he was absent from public life for 42 consecutive days, sparking rumors about his condition.

While the government insisted he was well, it simultaneously prohibited any public discussion about his health, labeling it a matter of national security.

Although his candidacy had long been expected, Sunday’s declaration made it official. Biya has increasingly turned to social media to engage with the public his 2018 re-election bid was also announced online, signaling a shift in his communications strategy.

Supporters within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) have spent the past year publicly urging him to run again. However, opposition figures and civil society groups remain adamant that Biya’s prolonged stay in power has undermined national progress. Two former allies have since broken ranks and declared independent bids.

His decision to seek another mandate is likely to reignite debate over succession in a country that has had only two presidents since gaining independence from France and the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Many observers fear that a sudden vacancy due to illness or death could spark a leadership crisis.

Meanwhile, several prominent challengers have already thrown their hats into the ring. Among them are 2018 contender Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, Social Democratic Front’s Joshua Osih, lawyer and former transparency advocate Akere Muna, and Cabral Libii of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation.

All have criticized Biya’s leadership and called for reforms to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.

Cameroon continues to grapple with a series of internal challenges, including persistent economic struggles, a protracted separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions, and ongoing threats from Boko Haram militants in the north.