92-Year-Old Paul Biya Wins Eighth Term As President Of Cameroon

Cameroon’s longtime leader, President Paul Biya, has been re-elected for an eighth term at the age of 92, after winning 53.7 percent of the votes.

According to results released by the Constitutional Council on Monday, Paul Biya’s closest rival, former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, finished second with 35.2 percent of the votes.

KanyiDaily recalls that Tchiroma had earlier declared himself the winner just two days after the October 12 election, claiming to have secured 54.8 percent compared to Biya’s 31.3 percent.

Tensions flared in the days leading up to the announcement of results.

At least four people were killed in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters who took to the streets to protest the election, which critics say has been increasingly rigged.

Authorities in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city, said protesters attacked police stations and a gendarmerie post, prompting officers to respond.

“Four people, unfortunately, lost their lives,” said Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, the regional governor, adding that several members of the security forces were also injured.

Witnesses at the scene told AFP that security forces opened fire with live ammunition after first using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

“They fired, three people, three bodies fell in front of us,” a protester told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Despite the unrest, many analysts had predicted Biya’s victory, given his firm grip on power.

The 92-year-old leader, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is now the world’s oldest serving head of state and only the second person to govern the country since its independence from France in 1960.

Over his four decades in power, Biya has maintained control through strict governance and suppression of dissent, despite ongoing political tensions, economic inequality, and violent separatist movements in parts of the country.

KanyiDaily recalls that there was outrage after Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya announced that he will run for an eighth term in the October 2025 election.