Cameroon will hold its presidential election on Sunday, with long-time leader Paul Biya, aged 92, widely expected to secure another term despite growing calls for change and deepening social unrest.
Biya, who has ruled since 1982, remains the world’s oldest sitting head of state and the dominant figure in Cameroon’s political landscape. His Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) faces a divided opposition of 11 candidates, none of whom appear poised to mount a unified challenge.
Labour Minister Grégoire Owona recently defended Biya’s candidacy, telling RFI that the president “is in great shape” and capable of continuing his leadership. However, critics and analysts question both his health and his ability to address the nation’s mounting crises.
A Fractured Opposition and Public Discontent
The most prominent opposition figure, Maurice Kamto, who finished second in 2018, has been barred from running by the courts — a move his supporters call politically motivated. Other candidates, including former ministers Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, have launched campaigns but lack nationwide momentum.
Observers note widespread disillusionment among young voters, many of whom face high unemployment, rising living costs, and a lack of political representation. Nearly one-third of Cameroonians live on less than $2 a day, deepening frustration with decades of economic stagnation.
Anglophone Crisis and Calls for Boycott
The election takes place amid an ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking North-West and South-West regions, where separatist violence since 2017 has killed thousands and displaced over 700,000 people.
Opposition leader Kah Walla, of the Cameroon People’s Party, said her movement is boycotting the election, arguing that it is “unconscionable” to proceed without ensuring citizens’ safety in the conflict zones.
Biya’s Rare Appearance and Growing Criticism
Biya, who is seldom seen in public, made his first and only campaign appearance this week in Maroua, promising to improve infrastructure, boost youth employment, and enhance regional security.
“I am well aware of the problems that concern you,” Biya told supporters. “Based on my experience, I can assure you these problems are not insurmountable.”
Despite his assurances, pressure has mounted for the veteran leader to step aside. The Catholic Archbishop Samuel Kleda has publicly urged Biya to retire, calling it “not realistic” for him to continue in office. Even within his inner circle, cracks have emerged — including public criticism from his daughter, Brenda Biya, who briefly called on citizens not to reelect her father before retracting her statement.
As polling day approaches, skepticism remains high. Many Cameroonians, like Theophile, a 24-year-old artist in Douala, see the vote as a formality rather than a genuine democratic contest.
“As long as the system remains in place, there is nothing that can be done,” he said. “There has to be a change.”
With Biya poised to extend his 43-year rule, Sunday’s election may reinforce his legacy as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders — but for many, it also underscores a nation yearning for renewal.
