In a sweeping military overhaul, Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya—the world’s oldest head of state—has replaced top brass across the armed forces, in what analysts interpret as a move to secure loyalty ahead of his controversial bid for an eighth presidential term.
Announced via a series of presidential decrees on Tuesday night, the reshuffle includes new chiefs of staff for the infantry, air force, and navy, along with the promotion of eight brigadier generals to major general. Notably, one of the newly elevated officers is the commander of the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), a powerful unit central to Cameroon’s counter-terrorism efforts and presidential security. A new special presidential military adviser was also appointed.
The decrees came just two days after Biya confirmed his intention to run again in the October 12, 2025, election—potentially extending his rule until he is nearly 100 years old. Biya has been in power since 1982.
His re-election announcement triggered widespread criticism and public concern, especially on social media and in the press, over his advanced age and prolonged absences from the public eye. The government, however, maintains that Biya remains in good health.
Analysts believe the timing and scale of the military shake-up signal a calculated strategy to fortify Biya’s hold on power. Anthony Antem, a security analyst with the Nkafu Policy Institute, described the changes as an effort “to build a fortress of loyal army generals” capable of quelling dissent. Celestin Delanga of the Institute for Security Studies echoed the sentiment, noting that the reshuffle comes at a “unique political and security context” and is aimed at ensuring stability before and after the elections.
Cameroon is grappling with multiple security threats, including a protracted conflict with Anglophone separatists in the west and incursions by Nigeria-based Islamist militants in the north. The government did not provide any official justification for the overhaul.
The last major military restructuring occurred in October 2024, following Biya’s extended stay abroad—a trip that once again raised questions about his fitness to lead.
As Cameroon edges toward a pivotal election, the president’s latest moves underscore his determination to remain in power, even as questions about governance, succession, and national stability grow louder.
