Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 92, has announced he will run for re-election in October this year. If he wins, it would mark his eighth term in office, extending a rule that began in 1982 and could see him remain president until nearly 100 years old. In a message shared on social media platform X, Biya said he is responding to “numerous and insistent” calls from citizens in all parts of the country and abroad. “Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” he stated. While his candidacy had been expected,

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 92, has announced he will run for re-election in October this year. If he wins, it would mark his eighth term in office, extending a rule that began in 1982 and could see him remain president until nearly 100 years old. In a message shared on social media platform X, Biya said he is responding to “numerous and insistent” calls from citizens in all parts of the country and abroad. “Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” he stated. While his candidacy had been expected, this public declaration confirms that Biya will once again seek to lead the Central African nation, despite growing concerns about his age, health, and long time in power. Last year, his more than six-week absence from the public eye sparked speculation about his health, including false rumours of his death. Biya’s time in office has been marked by accusations of corruption, poor governance, and failure to address major security challenges in the country. Some of his longtime political allies, especially from the north, have broken away from his ruling coalition. Prominent figures like former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari and Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary have left the ruling party and are now running against him. Bakary recently said the government he once served had “broken” the trust of the people and joined a rival party. Other opposition leaders like Maurice Kamto, who was the runner-up in the 2018 election, Joshua Osih, Akere Muna, and Cabral Libii have also declared their intention to run in the upcoming election. Despite these challenges, Biya still enjoys support within his party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement. Many of his loyalists had already called for him to stand again, making him the unofficial candidate before the announcement. In 2008, Biya removed term limits from the constitution, allowing him to run for president as many times as he wants. He won the last election in 2018 with more than 71% of the vote, though the opposition said the election was full of irregularities. As the October election approaches, many are watching to see whether Cameroonians will choose continuity or change after more than four decades of Biya’s rule.

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