Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Biya Wins Eighth Term

Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, has secured another term in office after being declared winner of the country’s presidential election.

The victory extenda his 43-year rule and solidifying his position as one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.

Biya, who is 92 years old, first came to power in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo.

He is set to remain in office until at least 2032, a tenure that would see him govern into his late 90s with his latest victory.

The country’s Constitutional Council announced the official results on Monday, confirming Biya’s win in an election that many observers described as predictable, given the weakened state of the opposition and the ruling party’s entrenched control of state institutions.

Reports from Yaoundé indicated that the election was marked by low voter turnout, particularly in restive regions affected by the ongoing Anglophone crisis.

Many opposition figures had alleged irregularities, claiming that the process was neither free nor fair.

Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) maintained that the poll was transparent and reflected the will of the people, with the president’s supporters celebrating across parts of the capital shortly after the announcement.

Before the vote, Biya had justified his decision to contest again, saying he was responding to what he called “the numerous and insistent calls” from Cameroonians urging him to continue his leadership.

However, critics have questioned both his physical capacity and his political legitimacy, pointing to his advanced age and prolonged absence from public engagements.

Many citizens, especially young people, have expressed frustration over what they describe as a lack of opportunities and economic stagnation.

International observers have also raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process and the government’s handling of dissent, including the conflict in the English-speaking regions where separatist groups continue to clash with government forces.

Despite mounting pressure for political transition, Biya’s administration has remained defiant, insisting that stability and experience are what the country needs most.