Cameroon's President Paul Biya to Contest 2025 Presidential Election at 93, Despite Ruling to Delay Parliament and Municipal Elections Until 2026

Strategic Insights -

Cameroon's president, Paul Biya, has announced his candidacy for the 2025 presidential election, defying his 93 age and the opposition's outcry. To pave the way for his potential win, the country's parliament has approved a bill to delay the parliamentary and municipal elections until 2026. This decision has fueled accusations of undemocratic tactics and a desperate attempt by the ruling party to cling to power.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cameroonian parliament has approved a bill to delay the country's parliamentary and municipal elections until 2026.
  • President Paul Biya will contest the 2025 presidential election despite his 93 age, which has sparked opposition and raised concerns about his ability to lead the country.
  • According to Article 121 of Cameroon's electoral code, only a political party with representation in the National Assembly, Senate, Regional Council, or Municipal Council can nominate a presidential candidate.
  • An independent candidate, however, can run for the highest office in the land, but must be endorsed by at least 300 dignitaries from each of the country's 10 administrative regions.
  • Prof. Maurice Kamto, Biya's main challenger in 2018, does not have the representation required by law, and his party boycotted the 2020 twin parliamentary and municipal elections.
  • Cameroonian Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with Assemblies, Francois Bolvine Wakata, justified the delay by saying it will ease the burden of an electoral calendar.
  • The opposition sees the extension as a strategy to weaken any challenge to Biya in next year's vote, given that the country's first multiparty elections saw the late politician Ni John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) win more than a third of the vote.
  • Since then, Biya has won every election with at least 70 percent of the vote, with the most recent being in 2018, where he won with 71.28 percent.
  • The Cameroonian government has denied any accusations of rigging in favor of Biya, but opposition parties have reported habitual irregularities.

Statistics:

  • Cameroon's first post-independence president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, resigned in 1982, paving the way for Biya's presidency.
  • In 2020, the opposition parties boycotted parliamentary and municipal elections, citing them as a "farce."
  • Biya's Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) party was represented by only two members in the 2020 parliamentary election.
  • Cabral Libii, a presidential aspirant who came third in 2018 with 6.28 percent of the vote, was elected to parliament two years later.
  • Prof. Maurice Kamto, Biya's main challenger in 2018, came second with 14.23 percent of the total vote.
  • Joshua Osih, an opposition lawmaker and national chairman of the SDF party, came fourth in the 2018 election with 3.35 percent of the vote.
  • Akere Muna, a presidential aspirant who was one of nine candidates in the 2018 election, accused the government of misusing the people's trust by extending the mandate of lawmakers.

Sources:

  • Cameroon's National Assembly.
  • Cameroon's Presidency.
  • Cameroon's Electoral Code.
  • Cameroon's Constitution.
  • Article 121 of Cameroon's electoral code.
  • Article 170(2) of the country's electoral code.
  • Francois Bolvine Wakata, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with Assemblies.
  • Joshua Osih, opposition lawmaker and national chairman of the SDF party.
  • Akere Muna, presidential aspirant.
  • Paul Atanga Nji, Cameroon's Minister for Territorial Administration.
  • Ni John Fru Ndi, late politician and leader of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party.