Controversy rocks Cameroon elections as President Biya is re-elected

By Mark Ogagan

Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya will proceed for an unprecedented eighth term in office after being declared winner of a hotly-disputed election.

The 92-year-old, who is the world’s oldest head of state, won 53.7% of the vote, compared to the 35.2% of opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the Constitutional Council declared on Monday.

Prior to the announcement, Tchiroma Bakary, a former Biya ally, insisted he had won the election, but the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) dismissed his claim.

The election, which was held on 12 October, 2025 has been marred with deadly violence, and in recent days, hundreds of Tchiroma Bakary’s supporters defied protest bans in several cities, and engaged in bloody clashes with security forces.

Meanwhile, Biya thanked voters for “once again” trusting him.

“I sincerely hope that, together, we resolutely undertake to build a peaceful, united and prosperous Cameroon,” he said in a statement.

On Sunday, at least four people were killed during protests in Cameroon’s economic capital of Douala.

The regional governor, Samuel Dieudonné Diboua, said police posts had come under attack and security forces had defended themselves.

Biya, who came to power in 1982, is rarely seen in public and is known for spending time outside Africa in Swiss hotels. These long absences coupled with his advanced age has, in the past, led to rumours that he was dead.