YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – July 23, 2025 – An unprecedented 81 candidates have registered to compete in Cameroon’s presidential election scheduled for October 12, 2025, setting the stage for a historic challenge to President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 92. Biya, who has ruled the Central African nation since 1982, is seeking an eighth term, prompting widespread debate about the future of Cameroon’s leadership amid growing calls for change in a country grappling with economic hardship, separatist violence, and political stagnation.
The candidate list, finalized just before the midnight deadline on July 21, marks a significant increase from the 28 who ran in the 2018 election. It includes prominent opposition leaders, former allies of Biya, and lesser-known figures, with seven women and a range of ages represented. However, the electoral council, Elecam, is expected to reject many candidacies due to strict eligibility requirements, such as a CFA30 million (approximately $53,000) deposit and 300 endorsements from across Cameroon’s 10 regions. Only about 10 candidates in the capital, Yaoundé, have paid the deposit, according to a source from the Yaoundé Treasury Department. The provisional list of approved candidates will be published by August 2, with appeals reviewed by the Constitutional Council.
Biya, representing the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), announced his candidacy on July 13 via a post on X, citing “numerous and insistent calls” from across Cameroon and the diaspora. “Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” he wrote. His 43-year tenure, enabled by a 2008 constitutional amendment removing term limits, has been marked by economic stability and foreign investment but also by accusations of corruption, electoral fraud, and failure to address crises like the Anglophone separatist conflict in the North West and South West regions and Boko Haram incursions in the Far North.
Notable challengers include Maurice Kamto, 71, of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), who came second in 2018 and was jailed for nine months in 2019 after protesting alleged election irregularities. Kamto, supported by the Political Alliance for Reform and the Front for Change in Cameroon, has urged young voters to protect their votes, drawing inspiration from Senegal’s 2024 election. Other prominent candidates include former Biya allies Bello Bouba Maigari, 78, of the National Union for Democracy and Progress, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 75, of the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon, both of whom recently left the ruling coalition. Hermine Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya, 56, of the Cameroonian Democratic Union, and Akere Muna, 72, of the Univers party, also stand out, with Muna known for his anti-corruption advocacy.
The diverse field includes younger candidates like 31-year-old Daloutou Hamada, whose application is likely to be rejected due to the minimum age requirement of 35, and unconventional figures like recording artist Ferdinand Din-Din, known as “Papillon.” However, analysts like Collins Molua Ikome argue that the opposition’s fragmentation—over 300 political parties exist—reduces its chances against Biya’s entrenched CPDM. “They don’t stand a chance as individual candidates. If they form a transitional coalition, then maybe they might,” Ikome told CNN. A 2023 attempt by opposition parties to form a coalition was declared illegal by the government, raising concerns about electoral fairness.
Public sentiment reflects frustration, particularly among Cameroon’s youth, with a median age of 18 and life expectancy of 63. Voter turnout has declined from 80.4% in 1992 to 53.3% in 2018, amid allegations of fraud and voter suppression. In Yaoundé, many residents fear reprisals for discussing politics openly, with one anonymous citizen telling the BBC, “Never in the political history of nations have I seen or heard that a man of that age is declaring his candidacy.” Catholic bishop Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo called for Biya to step down, saying, “Enough is enough,” while social media buzzes with talk of a “post-Biya era.”
The election’s outcome could have significant implications. Biya’s limited public appearances and health concerns—he was absent for 42 days in 2024, sparking rumors of his death—have fueled speculation about a potential succession crisis. His son, Franck Biya, is seen as a possible successor, though the constitution designates the Senate president to organize elections if Biya cannot serve. Recent military reshuffles, including promotions within the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion, suggest efforts to secure loyalty amid public outcry.
Cameroon, with its robust economy in Central Africa, faces stark inequalities, with a third of its 29 million people living on $2 or less daily. The election could either reinforce Biya’s grip or, if opposition unites, signal a shift. As the electoral council sifts through applications, the world watches whether Cameroon’s youth and fragmented opposition can challenge one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
