Cameroon’s President Paul Biya Announces Intent to Run for Eighth Term

Cameroon’s long-serving President, Paul Biya, has announced that he will seek re-election for an eighth term in the upcoming 2025 Presidential Election. This confirmation was reported by the Foreign Press Association Africa, citing a report from The EastAfrican.

At 91 years old, President Biya is currently one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders, having held the presidency since 1982. Prior to his presidency, he served as Prime Minister under then-President Ahmadou Ahidjo from 1975 until 1982.

The next presidential election in Cameroon is set for 2025, during which Biya will be 93 years old. The last presidential election took place in 2018.

In a recent move that has raised concerns among the opposition and civil society, President Biya postponed the country’s Parliamentary and Municipal elections until 2026, citing security issues in the Anglophone regions. These regions have been affected by a separatist conflict that began in 2016.

The country’s elections management body, ELECAM, reported that approximately 7.9 million citizens have registered to vote ahead of the August 31 deadline for voter registration. This figure reflects about 50 percent of eligible voters in Cameroon.

Many qualified voters remain hesitant to register, fearing that the elections may not be conducted free, fair, and transparently. This sentiment has been fueled by the controversial decisions made by the Biya administration.