Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, aged 91, has officially announced his bid for re-election in the October 2025 presidential polls, setting the stage for another heated chapter in the Central African nation’s political history.
In a late-night declaration titled “Je suis candidat”, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya officially announced his candidacy for the country’s upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 12, 2025. At 91 years old, Biya who has held power for over four decades insists he is still the right man to steer the country through what he described as “increasing constraints” and “growing challenges.”
Citing national security, youth employment, and women’s inclusion as his central campaign themes, Biya said his decision was prompted by “urgent appeals” from citizens across Cameroon’s ten regions and the diaspora.
“Ensuring the security and well-being of the sons and daughters of our dear and beautiful country has been the sacred mission to which I have dedicated my time and energy since my accession to the Supreme Magistracy,” Biya stated.
His announcement ends months of speculation about his political future and sends a strong message to both allies and critics that he intends to remain a central figure in Cameroon’s governance.
However, the declaration has reignited debates over political succession and democratic transition. Critics from opposition parties and segments of civil society argue that Biya’s long tenure has stifled innovation, bred corruption, and isolated a youthful generation yearning for leadership renewal.
“He has presided over a state that has become a shell of its potential. Cameroon needs new energy, not more of the same,” said Maurice Kamto, opposition leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), in a statement responding to the announcement.
Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), however, rallied in support of the decision, calling it a continuation of “visionary leadership.” Party loyalists argue that Biya’s experience and diplomatic stability are crucial in maintaining national unity especially in a region marked by security threats and political volatility.
Despite international pressure to open up political space, Biya’s administration has been accused of repressing dissent, controlling the electoral process, and marginalizing Anglophone regions. Human rights groups have documented cases of crackdowns on protests and detention of journalists.
Still, with a fragmented opposition and entrenched ruling party machinery, Biya’s path to re-election may once again be unchallenged.
If re-elected, Biya would be entering his eighth term in office extending a presidency that began in 1982 and making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world.
Whether this marks the resilience of a seasoned statesman or the refusal to relinquish power, one thing is clear: Cameroon’s 2025 election is shaping up to be a defining moment in its post-independence history.
