Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, appears set to extend his four-decade rule following the October 12, 2025, presidential election, as early reports suggest a strong showing for the world’s oldest sitting leader.
Biya, who has ruled since 1982, is seeking a record eighth term, despite mounting criticism over his age, health, and lengthy absences from public life.
The election took place under tight security, with more than 8 million registered voters including about 34,000 abroad, casting their ballots across the country. Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) dominated the campaign, leveraging state resources and a tightly controlled media environment.
His closest rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government spokesperson, has called for generational change, though opposition parties remain fragmented after the disqualification of prominent contender Maurice Kamto.
Biya’s bid for another term has stirred both fatigue and frustration among many Cameroonians, especially the youth, who have known no other president in their lifetime. The leader’s advanced age has also reignited debate over his fitness to govern, with critics pointing to long stretches spent abroad for medical treatment.
Nonetheless, official campaign images have portrayed a much younger and energetic Biya, prompting ridicule and debate online.
In a dramatic twist, the president’s daughter, Brenda Biya, sparked controversy earlier this month after posting a viral TikTok video urging voters not to support her father, citing the country’s suffering under his rule. She later deleted the post and issued a partial retraction, but the video continues to circulate widely.
Election observers and analysts have warned of irregularities and voter intimidation in some regions, particularly in the Anglophone west and the Far North, where security remains volatile.
Official results are expected by October 26, 2025, though few anticipate an upset in a nation where Biya’s grip on power has defined politics for more than 43 years.