For more than four decades, President Paul Biya has remained at the centre of Cameroon’s political life. As the nation heads toward another presidential election held on October 12, 2025, Biya, now 92 years old, is once again seeking re-election—his eighth term in office.

Biya first assumed power on November 6, 1982, following the resignation of the country’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. Since then, he has led Cameroon through one-party rule, economic reforms, and years of political and security challenges.

His long stay in power has been marked by a series of elections that have often stirred both domestic and international debate. In 1988, Biya won with nearly 100 percent of the vote under a one-party system. The 1992 election, the country’s first multi-party poll, saw him narrowly defeat opposition leader John Fru Ndi, securing 39.9 percent of the vote amid allegations of fraud.

Subsequent elections in 1997, 2004, 2011, and 2018 extended his rule, with Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) consistently dominating the polls. A major turning point came in 2008, when Cameroon’s parliament removed presidential term limits, allowing Biya to continue contesting indefinitely.

The 2018 election saw Biya win his seventh term with about 71 percent of the vote, while opposition candidate Maurice Kamto claimed victory and alleged widespread irregularities. Political tensions and violent crackdowns followed, particularly in the Anglophone regions, where separatist conflicts have persisted.

In the 2025 election, Biya faces a fragmented opposition, with several candidates barred or divided. Former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary has emerged as a challenger, though many analysts predict another Biya victory due to his entrenched control over state institutions.

If re-elected, Paul Biya will extend his leadership beyond 43 years, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders—second only to Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

As Cameroonians await the official results, questions remain about the future of democracy, political renewal, and peace in a nation deeply shaped by one man’s enduring rule.