In a stunning announcement that’s reignited debate across Africa, Cameroon's 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, declared Sunday that he will run for an unprecedented eighth term in the upcoming October elections — despite persistent health concerns, mounting opposition, and decades of political unrest.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is the second-longest-serving president in Africa, trailing only Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang. Amid rumors of his death last year — which his government hastily denied — many believed Biya would finally step down. Instead, the veteran leader returned with a defiant message on social media: “Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us.”
For many, it was a bombshell. After more than four decades in power, critics argue Biya’s continued rule signals the death of democratic transition in the Central African nation.
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“President Biya’s decision to run again shows that Cameroon is trapped in a cycle of political stagnation,” said Nkongho Felix Agbor, a prominent human rights advocate. “The country is crying out for change — not another term of the same.”
Under Biya’s leadership, Cameroon has faced widespread allegations of corruption, violent conflict in its English-speaking regions, and the growing threat of Boko Haram’s spillover from Nigeria. His 2018 re-election — won with over 70% of the vote — was plagued by low turnout and claims of fraud amid armed conflict and fear.
Adding fuel to the fire, some of Biya’s longtime allies have recently jumped ship, launching their own presidential bids in what many see as a sign of eroding loyalty within the ruling elite.
As Cameroon gears up for what could be its most contentious election yet, observers warn the stakes couldn’t be higher — not just for Biya, but for the future of democracy in the region.
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