President Paul Biya, at 92 years old, has confirmed he will seek an eighth presidential term in Cameroon’s upcoming October 12 general election, extending his already four-decade grip on power and solidifying his status as the world’s oldest serving head of state.
The announcement was made through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, declaring:
“I am a candidate in the presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face.”
If successful, Biya would remain in office until the age of 99, potentially ruling into his 100th year by the end of the new seven-year mandate.
Having ascended to power in 1982 after taking over from Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, Biya has long outlasted most of his peers both on the continent and globally.
He has since won several elections, most recently in 2018, where he was declared winner with 71.28% of the vote a result his opponents dismissed as fraudulent amid allegations of ballot-stuffing, voter suppression, and a lack of transparency.
Biya’s grip on power was further cemented in 2008 when he scrapped presidential term limits, effectively opening the path for indefinite rule.
His latest re-election bid comes despite growing concerns over his health. In 2023, the president disappeared from public view for 42 days, fueling intense speculation about his condition a conversation his government quickly shut down by banning public discourse on the matter.
Despite persistent economic and security challenges, particularly in the Anglophone regions where conflict and unrest continue, Biya remains a dominant figure within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and retains strong control over state institutions.
