Cameroon: President Paul Biya, aged 91 of Cameroon will contest in the 2025 Presidential Election to seek an eighth term. He has served as the President for 42 years in the country, since1982.
President Biya has also served as the Prime Minister for seven years from 1975 to 1982, and postponed the Parliamentary and Municipal elections until the year 2026 comes.
Paul Biya, is Cameroon’s long-serving President and has announced his intention to run for an eighth term in the 2025 Presidential Election.
Reportedly, he is the one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders at the age of 91. He served as country’s Prime Minister under the then-President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Following a controversial move, Biya has recently postponed the country’s Parliamentary and Municipal elections until 2026, citing the security concerns in the Anglophone regions, where a separatist conflict has been raging since 2016.
As per the sources, the conflict, that began as protests against perceived marginalisation by the Francophone dominated government, has now escalated into a full-blown insurgency, with the armed groups, calling for the independence of the English-speaking North-West and South-West regions.
Furthermore, Paul Biya’s time in power has been marked by a combination of political stability and growing discontent with his administration often criticised for authoritarian practices, including the suppression of opposition parties, considering the restrictions on press freedom and the use of security forces to maintain the control.
Tackling all these challenges – Biya has managed to maintain a tight grip on power, winning a series of elections that critics argue were marred by fraud and irregularities.
Founder of the Foreign Press Association Africa – Kennedy Wandera disclosed on Thursday, August 22, 2024 that Cameroon is due to hold its next presidential election in 2025, longtime President Paul Biya will be 91.
“He has confirmed that he will contest. If he wins the election and completes the new seven-year mandate, then Biya will be 100 years in 2032,” said the founder.
According to the report, the decision by Biya to delay the election by a year and to allow him to contest despite his age, has angered the opposition in Cameroon.
Notably, the politicians from opposition may not be allowed to contest, leaving Biya free to win again and serve for seven years.
“Cameroon’s parliament last month approved Biya’s request to postpone parliamentary and Municipal elections until 2026 to allow some breathing space, claiming that the political calendar is crowded,” claims the report.