NextFin news, Cameroon's long-serving President Paul Biya, aged 92, is seeking an eighth term in office in the presidential election scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2025. Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, faces growing discontent among the country's youth and opposition groups amid allegations of electoral manipulation and political repression.
Despite his advanced age and decades in power, Biya launched his re-election campaign publicly on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, with a rally in the Far North region of Cameroon. His bid for another term comes amid a backdrop of youth-led protests and dissatisfaction across Africa, including in Cameroon, where many young people express frustration over unemployment, lack of political freedom, and economic challenges.
The election is marked by controversy, as the country's electoral body, largely controlled by Biya's administration, has excluded his main opposition candidate, Maurice Kamto, from the ballot. Kamto, 71, was the runner-up in the 2018 presidential election with 14 percent of the vote and has called the exclusion arbitrary. The Constitutional Council upheld this decision in August 2025, effectively limiting meaningful competition in the race.
Biya's government also controls the military and appoints most officials in the electoral commission, which critics say undermines the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. Since Biya first took office in 1982, he has won every election by large margins, with results widely regarded as rigged by international observers.
In the capital city of Yaoundé, signs of public discontent have surfaced, including the removal and vandalism of Biya's campaign posters. However, political analysts and observers widely expect Biya to secure another term given his entrenched control over state institutions and security forces.
The youth discontent in Cameroon reflects a broader trend across Africa, where young populations are increasingly vocal against long-standing regimes and economic hardships. This election occurs amid a wave of Gen Z-led protests in several African countries, driven by demands for political reform, job creation, and improved governance.
International human rights organizations and election monitors have expressed concern over the exclusion of opposition candidates and the potential for unrest following the election. The political climate remains tense as Cameroonians prepare to vote on October 12, 2025, in what many see as a critical moment for the country's democratic future.
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