Why Paul Biya's presidency in Cameroon has entered a fragile final phase

Paul Biya, President of Cameroon and presidential candidate for the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), casts his ballot at a polling station in Yaounde on October 12, 2025 during Cameroon's presidential election. [AFP]

For the first time ever, the opposition parties in Cameroon have come “close” to unseating 92-year-old Paul Biya, who has run the country since 1982.

The stiffest competition for Biya in the 2025 election came from 76-year-old Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally and government spokesperson, who contested on the platform of Cameroon National Salvation Front. He won more than 35% of the vote – the second highest ever scored by an opposition candidate since Biya has been contesting.