Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has announced his candidacy for an eighth term in office, defying growing calls to step aside.
Biya, 92, made the declaration Sunday on social media platform X, ahead of the October 12 election. If re-elected, he could remain in power well into his late 90s.
Biya has ruled since 1982, taking over from his mentor Ahmadou Ahidjo, whom he later forced into exile. His long tenure has been marked by allegations of electoral fraud and rising authoritarianism.
Public frustration surged following his announcement. “Nous sommes foutus” (“We are screwed!”) blared Monday’s headline in Le Messager alongside a photo of Biya.
Cameroon faces mounting crises, including conflict with Anglophone separatists and attacks from Islamist militants in the north, while basic services continue to deteriorate.
Biya has rarely appeared in public in recent years, fuelling speculation about his health and who is truly in charge of the country.
“Most of us don’t believe Biya is actually running the country anymore,” said Rebecca Enonchong, a tech entrepreneur. “This decision shows how out of touch the system is.”
Last year, the government banned public discussion of Biya’s health, but the local press has largely ignored the directive.
Analysts warn of a potential succession crisis if Biya becomes incapacitated or dies in office, as Cameroon has had only two presidents since independence.
Human rights lawyer Alice Nkom urged Biya to step down, citing her own experience with ageing. “The brain is no longer working,” she said.
Two former allies have quit Biya’s ruling coalition and declared their own presidential bids, signalling fractures within the political elite.
Still, analysts say the ruling party’s control of state machinery could secure Biya another term—despite mounting discontent.
