On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Cameroonians headed to the polls for a presidential election that could see Paul Biya, Africa’s oldest leader, extend his already four-decade-long grip on power by another seven years. At 92, Biya has been at the helm since 1982, following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. If successful in this latest bid, Biya would remain in office until the age of 99, marking his eighth consecutive term and further cementing his status as one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.
According to the Associated Press, Cameroon has witnessed only two presidents since its independence from France and Britain in 1960. Biya’s tenure has spanned seismic shifts both within the country and across the continent, yet his political dominance has never seriously wavered at the ballot box. He has officially won seven previous elections, often amid allegations of irregularities and opposition suppression.
This year’s election, however, unfolded under a climate of uncertainty and tension. Nine candidates challenged Biya, but the field was notably thinned by the August 2025 decision of the Constitutional Council to bar Maurice Kamto, a 71-year-old opposition figure widely seen as Biya’s main rival, from participating. The move was met with frustration and disappointment among opposition supporters, fueling claims that the political playing field remains anything but level.
As reported by BBC, the campaign period was marked by complaints of attempts to suppress opposition support. In the days leading up to the vote, key officials left the ruling party, and speculation swirled about Biya’s health and the possibility of a generational shift in leadership. Yet, for many, the prospect of real change seemed remote. “This was the weakest year for the state,” said Dr. Issa Bakary Benjamin, a professor at the University of Maroua, as quoted by the Associated Press. “Most party officials routinely spend time speculating on Biya’s topic, leaving key members in his day-to-day governing family.”
On election day, about 13 million registered voters—out of a national population of roughly 43 million—were eligible to cast their ballots. The turnout, though, was uneven. In the English-speaking western regions, separatist groups had called for a boycott, and many residents stayed away from polling stations, fearing reprisals. Still, some defied the threats and cast their votes, determined to have their voices heard despite the risks. “We voted to choose our environmentalist for the first time,” said Chekam Guinea, a 43-year-old voter in Yaoundé, as reported by the Associated Press. “Things are ruined, roads are potholes everywhere, electoral confidence is easy to do, but we care because we have hope for getting everything right.”
Elsewhere, the atmosphere was charged. In Garoua, stronghold of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, tensions boiled over as angry supporters clashed with security forces. Tear gas was fired after Bakary’s residence was cordoned off, and the candidate himself reported receiving threats. “It is not Tchiroma who is the problem,” he told reporters, according to BBC. “I place myself under the protection of God and the Cameroonian people. I am at home; I will not move. If they intend to come and take me away from home, I will not move.”
Despite these flashpoints, Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji insisted that the polls were held “hitch-free” across all ten regions. He did not address the events in Garoua directly but reiterated previous warnings that any attempts by candidates to publish unofficial results ahead of the official declaration would be met with legal consequences. The official result is expected within 15 days of the vote, leaving the country in a state of anxious anticipation.
Security and economic hardship weighed heavily on voters’ minds. The northern regions, plagued by poverty and ongoing clashes with separatists and insurgent groups like Boko Haram, saw heightened tensions. According to United Nations estimates, Cameroon’s population is among the youngest and least affluent in Africa, with many struggling to access basic services such as health care and education. Unemployment remains high, and the cost of living continues to rise, fueling frustration and a desire for change among the electorate.
Yet, many Cameroonians expressed skepticism about the prospects for meaningful reform. “We usually do things the way the system knows it is free for, fair facts,” said Joshua Osih, a member of the opposition Social Democratic Front, as quoted by the Associated Press. “Unfortunately, ballots cannot be bottlenecked as the incumbent cannot be some, also a, as ballots are for free, fair facts.” For some, the process felt more like a ritual than a genuine exercise in democracy.
Meanwhile, the ruling party’s dominance remained palpable, especially in the poorer northern areas where Biya’s support was strongest. In Maroua, for instance, Bakary’s campaign commanded nearly 20% of the vote, but many residents expressed little confidence in the possibility of change. “That’s Yaoundé,” said one first-time voter, reflecting on the capital’s enduring influence. “Everything I’m here for is confidence, but we care about change.”
International observers and analysts are watching closely, mindful of Cameroon’s strategic importance in Central Africa. The country has long served as a bulwark against instability in the region, yet it faces mounting challenges, from separatist violence in the Anglophone west to the threat of jihadist groups in the north. The government’s response to these crises—and its willingness to accommodate dissent—will likely shape its trajectory in the years to come.
For now, the people of Cameroon wait. The final tally, expected by late October, will determine whether Biya’s remarkable hold on power continues or whether a new chapter—however uncertain—begins. As the ballots are counted and the dust settles, one thing is clear: the stakes could hardly be higher for a nation at a crossroads.
