On October 12, 2025, Cameroonians went to the polls in a presidential election that could extend the rule of Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state, for another seven years. As the sun rose over Yaoundé and beyond, more than 8 million registered voters—including over 34,000 living overseas—were expected to cast their ballots at more than 31,000 polling stations across the Central African nation, according to Associated Press and reporting from The Guardian.
Paul Biya, who is now 92 or 93 depending on the source, has been president since 1982, taking the reins after the resignation of Cameroon’s first post-independence leader, Ahmadou Ahidjo. Since then, Biya has won seven consecutive elections, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. If victorious again, he will be 99 when his next term ends, a fact that has fueled intense debate about the future of Cameroon’s leadership.
The atmosphere at polling stations was largely calm and peaceful, with voters starting to arrive as early as 8 a.m. “The stakes are high, the expectations are high. And we as citizens only hope for the best of our country and that is why I am so happy to come out early to take part in this very important civic responsibility,” said Nkwain Emmanuel Ayah, a voter in Yaoundé, as quoted by local news outlets. By 6 p.m., polls closed, and the counting began, with results expected by October 26 or 27 at the latest, in accordance with the Constitutional Council’s 15-day window.
Despite the overall tranquility, there were pockets of tension. In the capital, some voters protested after being ordered by electoral officials to leave the entrance of a voting hall, as reported by BBC. In the Anglophone regions, where a secessionist conflict has raged since 2017, some residents braved threats from separatists to cast their votes, while many others stayed home out of fear. “We still believe it is unconscionable for the Biya regime to go to elections without ensuring the security of citizens in #NOSO,” said Kah Wallah, leader of the Cameroon People’s Party, referencing the North-West and South-West regions.
Security was a recurring theme throughout the campaign. In addition to the separatist war in the west, Cameroon’s Far North continues to struggle with the spillover of Boko Haram’s insurgency from neighboring Nigeria. Armed groups frequently attack border towns, adding to the sense of instability in the country. The government deployed more than 25,000 officials from the national electoral body, ELECAM, and welcomed international observers to help ensure transparency and fairness, as noted by France24 and AP.
Biya’s main challengers, at least on paper, included nine or eleven opposition candidates (sources vary), among them former ministers Bello Bouba Maigari and Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Bakary, who had recently defected from Biya’s camp, voted in his hometown of Garoua despite receiving threats. “No be Tchiroma be di problem,” he told reporters in English, adding, “I put myself under the protection of God and the Cameroonian people. I am in my house; I will not move. If they plan to come and take me from my house, I will not move.” His campaign, like those of other opposition figures, struggled to unify the fractured anti-Biya vote.
Yet, the field was missing a key player: Maurice Kamto, widely seen as the most credible opposition candidate, was barred from running by the courts. This exclusion, combined with a lack of cohesion among the remaining challengers, led many observers to predict another victory for Biya. “As long as the system remains in place, there is nothing that can be done. There has to be a change,” lamented Theophile, a 24-year-old artist in Douala, speaking to The Guardian.
For many young Cameroonians, the sense of disillusionment runs deep. The country’s population, which topped 29 million in 2024, is overwhelmingly young, yet youth unemployment is rampant and political representation scarce. At least a third of Cameroonians live on less than $2 a day, according to The Guardian, while United Nations estimates put the poverty rate at 43% when considering core living standards like income, education, and health. The cost of living crisis and persistent political stagnation have only deepened public frustration, especially among the youth.
Voter turnout has declined dramatically over the years, exacerbated by ongoing violence in the Far North and the Anglophone west. The Anglophone crisis alone has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced over 700,000 people since it erupted in 2017. The government’s heavy-handed response has been widely criticized, and many in the affected regions chose to boycott the vote altogether.
Biya, rarely seen in public, made a single campaign appearance this election cycle, addressing supporters in Maroua, a city in the Far North. There, he promised to improve security, reduce youth unemployment, and invest in infrastructure if re-elected. “I am well aware of the problems that concern you, I know the unfulfilled expectations that make you doubt the future,” Biya said in his speech, as quoted by The Guardian. “Based on my own experience, I can assure you that these problems are not insurmountable.”
Calls for Biya to step aside have grown louder. Last Christmas, Catholic archbishop Samuel Kleda declared on French radio that it was “not realistic” for Biya to continue. Even Biya’s daughter, Brenda Biya, took to TikTok to say her father “has made too many people suffer” and urged Cameroonians not to support him—though she later retracted her statement. The video, however, continues to circulate among critics of the regime.
Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji issued stern warnings to all candidates: only the Constitutional Council is authorized to declare the official results. He threatened legal action against anyone who tried to claim victory prematurely or organize private tallies. This was a clear signal to opposition figures, especially in light of past disputed elections.
Despite the challenges, some Cameroonians see this election as a constructive step for democracy. “We are waiting for every Cameroonian registered on the electoral roll to make their choice freely and in good conscience, for the winner to be declared, and for a new candidate to emerge, in line with the promises made by the elected candidate,” said Bang Alain, another voter, reflecting a cautious optimism shared by some.
As ballots are counted and the nation waits for the Constitutional Council’s decision, the future of Cameroon hangs in the balance. Whether the result will bring genuine change or simply reinforce the status quo remains to be seen, but for now, the world watches as Africa’s oldest president seeks yet another term at the helm of a nation yearning for stability and hope.
