Cameroon’s long-serving leader, President Paul Biya, has declared victory in the country’s recently concluded presidential election, securing what would be his eighth consecutive term in office amid widespread allegations of electoral irregularities and voter suppression.
According to provisional results released by the Cameroon Electoral Commission (ELECAM), Biya, who has ruled the Central African nation since 1982, won with over 70% of the votes. Opposition parties, however, have rejected the outcome, describing the poll as “a sham” and calling for fresh elections under international supervision.
Observers from both local and international missions cited reports of restricted access for opposition agents, intimidation of voters, and limited transparency in vote tabulation, particularly in the country’s Anglophone regions, which have faced years of political unrest and conflict.
President Biya, now 92 years old, remains one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving heads of state. In his victory speech, he urged citizens to remain united and pledged to “continue steering Cameroon toward peace and development.”
However, critics argue that his decades-long rule has been marked by authoritarian governance, economic stagnation, and human rights violations, with mounting calls for political transition and generational change.
As celebrations and protests erupt across different parts of the country, international observers are urging restraint and dialogue to preserve peace and stability in the region.
