The venerable Paul Biya of Cameroon has declared his intention to seek an eighth term as president in the 2025 presidential election.
Having served as president since 1982, Biya, who is 91 years old, is among the most senior and longest-serving heads of state globally. Prior to assuming the most important position, Biya led the nation as prime minister from 1975 to 1982 under President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
The country’s parliamentary and municipal elections were recently controversially delayed until 2026 by President Biya, who cited security concerns in the Anglophone regions, where a separatist struggle has been raging since 2016.
Beginning as demonstrations against the Francophone-dominated government’s alleged marginalisation of its citizens, the conflict has since grown into a full-fledged insurgency, with armed factions demanding the independence of the English-speaking regions of the South and West.
Political stability and escalating discontent have characterised Biya’s tenure in office.
His administration has come under fire for its authoritarian policies, which include stifling opposition parties, limiting press freedom, and using security forces to keep the peace.
Despite these difficulties, Biya has been able to hold onto power tightly, winning a string of elections that some claim were tainted by fraud and anomalies.
