On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Cameroonians head to the polls for a presidential election that, at first glance, seems to pit a vibrant, youthful nation against a political class that looks more like their grandparents—or even great-grandparents. President Paul Biya, at 92 years old, is seeking an unprecedented eighth term in office, making him not only one of the world’s oldest leaders but also Africa’s second-longest-serving head of state. Having ruled since 1982, Biya’s tenure has outlasted several generations of voters, with more than 60% of Cameroon’s 30 million people under the age of 25. For most, Biya is the only president they have ever known.
According to Statistics Times, over 70% of the population is under 35, yet the presidential candidates are overwhelmingly drawn from the political elite of the 1970s and 1980s. Biya’s main challengers are hardly spring chickens themselves: Bello Bouba Maigari, age 78, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, have both been key figures in Cameroonian politics for decades. This generational disconnect is not lost on the country’s youth, many of whom are desperate for change.
"After 43 years, the people are tired," young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi told the BBC. She’s not alone in her sentiment. The dominant feeling among young Cameroonians is a yearning for “new blood,” as Mboussi put it, and a belief that “longevity in power inevitably leads to a kind of laziness.” For many, the upcoming vote is less about hope than about resignation to a system they see as rigged in favor of the ruling party.
The list of candidates is long—12 in total—but the names are mostly familiar. Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), also known as the RDPC, has a sprawling nationwide structure, from governors down to village chiefs, that has delivered him comfortable victories time and again. His only major rally this week in Maroua drew massive crowds, with state media portraying him as the enduring “father of the nation.” During the event, Biya acknowledged the country’s frustrations over poor infrastructure and unemployment but urged citizens to “trust in the future” and reject “false prophets of doom.”
Bello Bouba Maigari, once a prime minister under Biya and now the leader of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), has made national unity and administrative reform the centerpieces of his campaign. His momentum grew when Akere Muna and Ateki Seta withdrew from the race to endorse him. Maigari has promised to “restore integrity to government” and decentralize power, though critics argue that his proposals lack the dynamism young voters crave.
Another veteran, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has gained attention with powerful speeches and energetic campaigning. Once a government spokesperson, Bakary broke ranks with Biya’s administration earlier this year, accusing it of “mismanaging the country’s oil and cocoa wealth.” His rallies in the north have drawn significant crowds, but he faces the uphill task of convincing younger, urban voters that he represents real change rather than just another face from the past.
There are, however, glimmers of something different. Hermine Patricia Ndam Njoya, at 56, is the only female candidate and represents the Democratic Union of Cameroon (UDC). Her campaign is anchored on transparency, youth empowerment, and women’s inclusion. While her reach remains limited, she has struck a chord with some younger voters who are looking for a genuine alternative. Other notable candidates include Akere Muna (73), Joshua Osih (56), Éric Essono Tsimi (43), Cabral Libii (45), and Léon Theiller Onana (38), each bringing their own vision—though none has yet managed to galvanize the youth vote in a way that threatens Biya’s dominance.
Despite the crowded field, Biya’s biggest rival from the last election, Maurice Kamto, was barred from running this year due to registration complications. Kamto, who secured 14% of the vote in 2018, was widely seen as the most credible challenger to Biya’s rule. His absence has only deepened the sense of voter apathy, with many young people questioning the point of participating in a system they believe is stacked against them.
Cameroon’s challenges are not limited to politics. The country faces a litany of issues, from rising food and fuel costs to high youth unemployment and persistent insecurity. According to the World Bank, the gross domestic product is projected to grow between 3.5% and 3.9% in 2025, buoyed by higher cocoa prices, increased cotton production, and improved electricity for businesses. Yet, government mismanagement and corruption have stifled economic progress. Poverty reduction has stagnated over the past two decades, with 23% of the population living in extreme poverty. Official unemployment is low at 3.8%, but many young Cameroonians report struggling to find work.
Security concerns loom large, especially in the Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest Cameroon, where separatist fighters have enforced lockdowns and violence has displaced more than one million people as of August, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET). The conflict, which erupted after a violent government response to peaceful protests in 2016, has killed hundreds and displaced over 638,000 people, as reported by Human Rights Watch in 2024. In these regions, voter turnout is expected to be severely depressed, particularly among young people who fear violence or reprisals.
Biya’s time in office has also been marked by long absences abroad—often for private or medical treatment in Switzerland. A media investigation in 2018 revealed that Biya had spent nearly four and a half years in Switzerland since coming to power, not counting official visits. His grip on power is maintained through tight control of the military and security apparatus, as well as by fostering divisions within both his own party and the opposition to prevent any major challenge to his authority.
Ethnic tensions have also intensified during this campaign, with analysts warning that Biya’s eventual departure could trigger instability. "There are tensions within his party around who will be president next, and there are also increasing ethnic tensions," Manu Lekunze, a lecturer in international relations at Aberdeen University, told Al Jazeera. "That’s a recipe for political instability," he added.
With no run-off provision in Cameroon’s electoral system, the candidate with the highest vote share wins outright—a structure that almost always favors the incumbent when the opposition is divided. This year, millions of young voters born after Biya came to power will cast their ballots for the first time. They are more connected, politically aware, and vocal about change than ever before. But whether they can channel that energy into a political upset remains to be seen.
As the country waits for the results, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Cameroon’s youth can finally tip the balance and usher in a new era—or if the status quo will prevail, yet again, under the watch of its nonagenarian president.
