Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Biya seeks eighth term amid health rumors and political challenges

Cameroon's 92-year-old President announced connected Monday (July 14, 2025) helium volition question his eighth word successful the upcoming October elections. The announcement comes aft months of speculation that the aging person would not run, mounting the signifier for an electoral showdown.

Paul Biya, Africa’s 2nd longest serving President aft Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, is often sick and abroad. Last year, speech dispersed that helium had died, prompting the authorities to publically contradict the rumors. Cameroon’s 2nd President since independency from France successful 1960, Mr. Biya has been successful powerfulness since 1982.

Promising that the champion is yet to travel successful his station connected societal media, Mr. Biya reiterated his determination to rule, saying, “Rest assured that my determination to service you is commensurate with the superior challenges facing us."

The much than 40 years of Mr. Biya’s regularisation person near a lasting impact. His authorities has faced assorted challenges, including allegations of corruption and a secessionist question successful Cameroon’s English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands retired of schoolhouse and triggered deadly clashes with information forces.

“President Biya’s announcement to tally again is simply a wide motion of Cameroon’s stalled governmental transition. After implicit 40 years successful power, what the state needs is renewal — not repetition. Cameroonians merit antiauthoritarian alteration and accountable leadership,” Nkongho Felix Agbor, a quality rights advocator and lawyer told The Associated Press.

Cameroon has besides had to woody with spillover unit by the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group, based successful neighboring Nigeria.

Recently, respective of Mr. Biya’s longtime allies defected to denote their ain candidacies for President.

He cruised to triumph successful 2018 with implicit 70% of the ballot successful an predetermination marred by irregularities and debased turnout owed to ongoing separatist and jihadi violence.

In a portion threatened with shrinking antiauthoritarian space, respective different African countries besides person presidents accused of utilizing authorities mechanisms to prolong their enactment successful power. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni precocious sought information for a seventh term, a determination that would bring him person to 5 decades successful powerfulness successful the East African country.