Cameroon's President Paul Biya, known as the world's oldest serving leader, has officially announced his candidacy for the October 2025 presidential elections. At the age of 92 and after 43 years in power, Biya aims to further extend his rule in the Central African country, writes A2 CNN.
"Be assured that my determination to serve you is matched by the urgency of the challenges we face," he said in a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter). He added that the decision to run came after "numerous calls" from citizens inside and outside Cameroon.
However, Biya's administration has been frequently criticized for corruption, mismanagement, waste of public funds and a lack of ability to manage security challenges. His absence from public view for more than six weeks last year sparked speculation about his health, including unfounded rumors of death.
His candidacy was expected, but was only confirmed through this post on social media. Biya has won every election since taking power in 1982, writes A2 CNN. If he wins another seven-year term, he could remain at the head of state until the age of 99.
In recent months, pressure for his resignation has mounted, both domestically and from the international community, with demands for a new leadership to take over. The challenges for Biya have grown particularly after the departure of key allies from the north, including former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari and prominent minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who have already declared their candidacies. Tchiroma said last month that Biya's administration had "broken" the trust of the people and that he had therefore defected to a rival party.
In addition to them, other opposition figures such as Maurice Kamto (a strong rival in the 2018 elections), Joshua Osih, Akere Muna and Cabral Libii, have also announced their participation in the presidential race.
Despite the challenges, there have been persistent calls within the ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, for Biya to run again. In 2008, he amended the constitution and removed term limits, paving the way for permanent presidential candidacy.
The 2018 elections were won by Biya with over 71% of the vote, but were followed by accusations of manipulation and major irregularities by the opposition. With the announcement of his candidacy, the race for the presidency in Cameroon is expected to be more tense than ever. (A2 Televizion)
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