YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, currently the world’s oldest serving head of state at 92, has officially declared his intention to run for re-election in the upcoming presidential vote on October 12. The announcement was made via a post on the president’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.
“I am a candidate in the presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” the post on the verified account stated.
Biya, who is seeking a new term that could extend his time in office until he is nearly 100 years old, first assumed power more than four decades ago in 1982, following the resignation of his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo.
His health has been a frequent subject of speculation, most recently last year when he was absent from public view for 42 days. While his re-election bid had been widely anticipated, it was not formally confirmed until Sunday’s social media announcement.
Leading up to the declaration, President Biya had been regularly posting on his verified X handle. Notably, in 2018, he also utilized social media to announce his candidacy for that year’s presidential contest, marking a rare direct engagement with the public on digital platforms.
Since last year, members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and other supporters have publicly urged Biya to seek another term. Conversely, opposition parties and various civil society groups contend that his protracted rule has hindered both economic and democratic development within the nation. Two former allies have already departed the ruling coalition and declared their separate intentions to run in the upcoming election.
Health concerns
Sunday’s announcement is expected to reignite discussions surrounding President Biya’s fitness for office. He rarely makes public appearances, often delegating significant responsibilities to the powerful chief of staff of the president’s office.
Last October, his return to Cameroon after a 42-day absence fueled speculation about his health. The government, however, asserted that he was well and subsequently prohibited any public discussion of his health, deeming it a matter of national security.
Biya abolished presidential term limits in 2008, effectively clearing the path for him to seek re-election indefinitely. He secured victory in the 2018 election with 71.28% of the vote, although opposition parties alleged widespread irregularities.
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The Central African nation, a significant producer of cocoa and oil, has had only two presidents since gaining independence from France and Britain in the early 1960s. This long political continuity suggests that Cameroon could face a challenging succession crisis should Biya become too unwell to govern or pass away while in office.
In addition to President Biya, several prominent opposition figures have declared their candidacies, including Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, who was the runner-up in 2018; Joshua Osih of the Social Democratic Front; lawyer Akere Muna; and Cabral Libii of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation. All these candidates have openly criticized Biya’s lengthy rule and called for comprehensive reforms to ensure a fair electoral process in 2025.
Under President Biya’s leadership, Cameroon has grappled with persistent economic challenges and insecurity on multiple fronts, including a protracted separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions and ongoing incursions from the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram in the northern part of the country.
