Cameroon President Paul Biya Seeks Eighth Term Amid Opposition Calls

Cameroon's 92-year-old President Paul Biya is seeking an unprecedented eighth term in the October 2025 election, despite growing opposition and calls for his retirement from various sectors including religious leaders, cabinet defectors, and even his daughter. Biya, Africa's longest-serving leader since 1982, maintains power through a strong patronage network, military loyalty, weak electoral institutions, and a divided opposition, while concerns about his health and capacity to govern persist amid a 42-day public absence last year. The election faces skepticism over its fairness and represents a critical test for Cameroon's stability, compounded by ongoing separatist and jihadist violence. His daughter's viral TikTok video urging voters to reject him, though later retracted, has amplified dissent and public debate. Despite these challenges, Biya remains the clear favorite, underscored by an entrenched system that discourages independent political thinking and opposition. Analysts warn that the political environment remains tightly controlled, with minimal freedom for opposition voices or independent electoral monitoring.