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Long-serving Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, has announced his intention to run for an eighth term in the 2025 Presidential Election.
Biya, one of the world's longest serving leaders, having been in power since 1982 served as the country’s Prime Minister for seven years, from 1975 to 1982, under then President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Biya recently postponed the country’s Parliamentary and Municipal elections until 2026, citing security concerns in the Anglophone regions, where a separatist conflict has been raging since 2016.
The conflict, which began as protests against perceived marginalisation by the Francophone-dominated government, has since escalated into a full-blown insurgency, with armed groups calling for the independence of the English-speaking North West and South West regions.
Biya’s time in power has been marked by a combination of political stability and growing discontent, with his administration often criticised for authoritarian practices, including the suppression of opposition parties, restrictions on press freedom, and the use of security forces to maintain control.
Amidst random challenges, Biya has managed to maintain a tight grip on power, winning a series of elections that critics argue were marred by fraud and irregularities.
