After 43 Years in Power, 92-Year-Old Cameroon President Paul Biya Seeks Eighth Term

Abolition of Term Limits Through Constitutional Amendments
Controversy Over Health and Leadership Ability

Election poster of Paul Biya, President of Cameroon. Paul Biya X

Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon who has held power for 43 years, is running for an eighth term. The presidential term in Cameroon is seven years, so if he is elected again in this election, his tenure could extend to a total of 50 years.

According to AFP on July 14 (local time), President Biya announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would once again run in the presidential election scheduled for October.

He stated, "I have decided to serve you in a situation faced with serious challenges," and added, "There is nothing we cannot overcome together, and our best moments are yet to come."

AFP noted that President Biya was already the de facto candidate of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), of which he is the leader. However, his advanced age has raised concerns about his health and ability to govern. President Biya is 92 years old this year, and according to AFP, in recent months, some of his long-time supporters have distanced themselves from him, and there have been defections among high-ranking officials.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Minister of Vocational Training and Education, resigned last month to run for president, and former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari has also announced his intention to run. Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), who finished second in the 2018 presidential election, is also expected to run in this election.

However, despite public criticism of the regime, the Cameroonian opposition remains deeply divided and has struggled to unite behind a single candidate. Candidates wishing to run for president must declare their intention by July 21, and the election will be held on October 12.

Meanwhile, the presidential term in Cameroon was originally a five-year, two-term system, but was changed to a seven-year, two-term system through a constitutional amendment in 1997. In 2008, another constitutional amendment abolished presidential term limits altogether, and all of these changes occurred during President Biya's time in office.