Cameroon’s Constitutional Council announced on Monday that incumbent President Paul Biya has secured victory in the October 12 presidential election, obtaining 53.66% of the vote and earning a mandate for an eighth term. At 92 years old, Biya, who has led the Central African nation since 1982, will now serve until at least 2032, extending his tenure to 50 years. The results, which place former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary in second with 35.19%, come amid reports of post-election protests and opposition assertions of discrepancies in the vote count.
Council President Clément Atangana formally proclaimed Biya the president-elect during a session in Yaoundé, stating that the incumbent had obtained the majority of votes cast. Voter turnout was recorded at 57.76%, according to the council’s findings. The announcement follows provisional tallies from the National Vote Counting Commission, which had shown Biya leading with over 53% of the vote.
Tchiroma, a 78-year-old former employment minister who defected from Biya’s administration earlier this year, had declared victory based on his campaign’s parallel count, claiming 54.8% to Biya’s 31.3% from 80% of polling stations. In a social media video following the council’s decision, Tchiroma reported gunfire near his residence in Garoua and urged supporters to mobilize peacefully, while rejecting the official outcome as “falsified.”
The election drew 13 candidates, including Biya of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) and Tchiroma of the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC). Notable figures such as Maurice Kamto of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) were disqualified by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) due to his party’s 2020 boycott of legislative polls, a decision his supporters described as politically motivated. Other candidates, including Akere Muna and Cabral Libii, received single-digit percentages.
The Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, acting as one of the few independent observers, reported several irregularities, such as the relocation of polling stations and outdated voter registers listing deceased individuals. International bodies, including the African Union and European Union, had called for transparency but were not granted full access to monitor the process. Prior to the vote, petitions seeking to disqualify Biya on grounds of age and health—filed by Muna and others—were rejected by the council, which cited a lack of legal basis for recusal.
Protests have occurred in cities including Douala, Yaoundé, and Bafoussam since partial results emerged, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces resulting in at least four deaths in Douala on Sunday and over 100 arrests nationwide. Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji stated that detentions targeted individuals plotting “violent attacks” and an “insurrectional movement.” Shops and schools in Yaoundé remained closed amid heightened security, while the Catholic Church’s National Episcopal Conference appealed for calm to preserve stability.
Biya’s low-key campaign relied heavily on social media, featuring recycled speeches and images that some observers questioned for authenticity, including potential AI-generated content. His sole in-person rally occurred in the northern city of Maroua, a traditional RDPC stronghold. The election also saw a public dissent from Biya’s daughter, Brenda Biya, who in September released a video encouraging voters to choose change over continuity.
From Seminarian to Statesman: Biya’s Early Life and Rise
Paul Biya was born on February 13, 1933, in the southern village of Mvomeka’a to Beti parents in what was then French Cameroon. Initially training for the priesthood at a Catholic seminary, he shifted focus to secular education, attending elite institutions in Yaoundé and Paris. He earned a degree in public law from the Institut des Hautes Études d’Outre-Mer in 1961 and a higher diploma in public law in 1963.
Returning to Cameroon amid decolonization, Biya entered public service under President Ahmadou Ahidjo, Cameroon’s first leader post-independence in 1960. Starting as a civil administrator, he advanced rapidly: director of the cabinet in 1967, secretary general at the presidency in 1968, and minister of state by 1972. In 1975, at age 42, Ahidjo appointed him prime minister, positioning him as constitutional successor in the one-party state dominated by the Cameroon National Union (CNU).
Ahidjo’s unexpected resignation in November 1982—attributed to health concerns—elevated Biya to the presidency at 49. He pledged “liberalization” and “rigor and moralization,” reforms aimed at streamlining governance. However, a 1984 coup attempt by Republican Guard elements, allegedly linked to Ahidjo loyalists, prompted a crackdown, including executions and the exile of the former president. Biya restructured the CNU into the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) in 1985, consolidating his control.
Navigating Turbulence: Key Milestones in Biya’s Tenure
Biya’s early years emphasized economic stabilization amid oil price fluctuations and cocoa export declines. By the late 1980s, urban unrest over hardships led to the legalization of multiparty politics in 1990, a concession to domestic and international pressure from France and Western donors.
The 1992 presidential election marked Cameroon’s first multiparty contest, with Biya securing 40% in a plurality amid opposition claims of manipulation. Subsequent victories—in 1997 (92.7%), 2004 (70.9%), 2011 (77.9%), and 2018 (71.3%)—occurred under a 2008 constitutional amendment that removed term limits. Critics, including the Social Democratic Front’s John Fru Ndi, alleged ballot stuffing and intimidation, while international observers noted systemic issues.
Biya’s rule has coincided with external relations expansions, including ties with China since 1971 and state visits in the 2000s. France remains a key partner, providing diplomatic and military support. Domestically, challenges have included a 2016 Anglophone separatist conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions, triggered by grievances over centralization, which has displaced over 700,000 and claimed thousands of lives. The government labels it terrorism, while separatists seek independence.
Economically, Cameroon’s GDP grew 4% in 2024, driven by oil ($5.3 billion in exports) and agriculture, though inflation at 6% and youth unemployment near 13% persist. Poverty affects 37% below $2.15 daily, with infrastructure strains in roads and healthcare. Biya’s administration highlights stability and development projects, such as the Lom Pangar Dam.
Biya, married to Chantal Biya since 1994 (following his first wife’s death in 1992), has three children. His reclusive style—earning the moniker “Sphinx of Etoudi”—involves limited public appearances, often from Geneva for health treatments.
Broader Context: Implications for Cameroon and Africa
With over 70% of Cameroon’s 30 million people under 35, Biya’s extended rule underscores a generational divide, mirroring trends in nations like Gabon and Togo where leaders over 70 hold power. Youth-led protests in Kenya and Senegal this year reflect similar calls for opportunity and reform.
Succession remains undefined; the constitution transfers duties to Senate President Marcel Niat Njifenji in case of vacancy, barring him from candidacy. Speculation includes son Franck Biya, though no formal heir exists. Analysts note potential instability without clear transition plans.
As Biya prepares for inauguration in November, the focus shifts to managing unrest and addressing economic pressures. The RDPC has hailed the result as a vote for “greatness and hope,” while opposition voices emphasize the need for electoral reforms. Cameroon’s path forward will test its institutions amid calls for dialogue.
