YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — On Monday, the Paul Biya era entered yet another chapter as Cameroon’s Constitutional Council declared the 92-year-old incumbent the winner of the presidential election, awarding him 53.66 percent of the vote. Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, first took office in 1982 and now looks set to extend his hold on power until at least 2032.
His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister, officially trailed with 35.2 percent, according to the Council’s tally. Tchiroma, however, had earlier proclaimed victory based on figures his party said were collated from polling stations, accusing the electoral system of bias and irregularities. Biya dismissed the claims, calling them “premature and unfounded.”
The announcement followed an October 12 vote held amid growing public tension. Citywide protests erupted across major urban centres as results loomed, particularly in Douala, the nation’s economic hub, where security forces clashed with demonstrators. At least four protesters were reported killed and more than one hundred people were arrested. Governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua of the Littoral Region, which includes Douala, said several members of the security forces were also injured. “We will not allow anyone to destabilise the peace of our country,” he told reporters.
Videos circulating online showed protesters confronting police, erecting barricades, and chanting slogans against the long-time ruler as security forces deployed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds. Similar scenes were reported in Garoua and Maroua in the north, where dozens of opposition supporters were detained. The government said those arrested were part of groups planning violent acts, while opposition parties accused authorities of targeting peaceful demonstrators.
At 92, Paul Biya is not only the oldest leader in the world but also one of the longest-serving. Since assuming office in 1982 following the resignation of his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo, Biya has dominated the political landscape of the Central African nation for more than four decades. He has survived coup attempts, managed regional conflicts, and presided over constitutional changes that effectively removed term limits in 2008, paving the way for indefinite rule.
Critics argue that Biya’s longevity in power has come at a cost to democracy. Opposition groups, civil society activists, and Western observers have long questioned the fairness of Cameroonian elections, pointing to limited political space, a tightly controlled media environment, and the ruling party’s pervasive influence. Tchiroma’s unverified claim that he won 60 percent of the vote reflects widespread scepticism among citizens who believe the system is stacked against change.
The re-election also underscores the stark generational divide within Cameroon. Nearly two-thirds of its population is under 35, and many young people have grown disillusioned with a government seen as disconnected from their aspirations. The country continues to grapple with unrest in its anglophone regions, economic inequality, and an uncertain security situation in the north, where militant violence persists.
For Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, the victory reaffirms its grip on power. For ordinary Cameroonians, it deepens a sense of political fatigue. As Biya prepares to begin another seven-year term, the question remains whether he will use this mandate to usher in reform or simply extend the status quo.
For now, the world’s oldest president has once again defied both age and political opposition — a familiar outcome in a nation where continuity has long outweighed change.
Discussion about this post