92-year-old President Seeks Eighth Term To Extend 43-Year Reign In Cameroon

President Paul Biya of Cameroon has formally announced his intention to run for an unprecedented eighth term in office ahead of the country’s October 12, 2025, presidential election.

Mr. Biya, who is 92 years old and has led Cameroon since 1982, made the declaration via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, pledging continued service to the nation amid rising domestic and international scrutiny of his long-standing rule.

“I am a candidate for the 12 October 2025 presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us,” he stated. “Together, there are no challenges we cannot meet. The best is still to come.”

Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving head of state after Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema, assumed power over four decades ago, following the resignation of the country’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. His announcement confirms he will again stand as the candidate of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), the dominant political force in the Central African country.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns over political stagnation, economic hardship, and ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, where separatist tensions continue to simmer. Critics argue that Biya’s decades-long rule has entrenched authoritarian governance, while supporters often cite his experience and political continuity as stabilizing factors.

If re-elected, Mr. Biya will extend his presidency well into his late 90s, prompting renewed debate over political longevity, leadership succession, and democratic health in Cameroon.