Cameroon's Presidential Election: Uncertainty Looms as Young Voters Seek Change

Strategic Insights -

Young Cameroonian voters are uncertain about the possibility of 92-year-old President Paul Biya announcing a bid to extend his more than four decades in power. With just a month to go before candidates have to officially register, some party faithful are calling for him to stand again in October. However, younger voters who have never known another leader in their lifetimes are skeptical about another mandate for Biya.

Younger voters are eager for change, with some already expressing their dissatisfaction with Biya's rule. "It would be one candidacy too many," said Ange Ngandjo, 35, a banking consultant. "He's given what he could. Our generation, trained and competent, also wants to build this country."

Law student Celestine Mbida, 24, who attends the University of Yaounde II, will be voting for the first time. She stopped short of openly criticizing the outgoing president but said: "This election represents a lot... It's the future of the country that is at stake. I want to participate by giving my vote."

Despite the uncertainty, supporters of Biya have been trying to win over the younger generation. A gathering under the banner "100,000 youth united behind Paul Biya in 2025" recently took place in the town of Maroua, a presidential stronghold in the poverty-hit Far North. Organizers said the aim was to unite around Biya for "a resounding victory" in the forthcoming vote.

However, not everyone is happy; some critics even accuse the organizers of stage-managing the event. "They rounded up children to make people believe he still has support in the Far North," one young man said in a video widely shared on social media. "It's false, it's a charade."

Political analyst Aristide Mono of Yaounde II University said whoever wins the presidency faced high expectations from voters. "Whether you're young, old, a woman or a man, the concerns are the same," he told AFP. "Persistent insecurity in the Far North, anglophone crisis, high unemployment, cost of living, tribalism."

Key Takeaways:

  • 92-year-old President Paul Biya may announce a bid to extend his more than four decades in power, uncertain for young voters.
  • Younger voters who have never known another leader in their lifetimes are skeptical about another mandate for Biya.
  • Many law students and young professionals are eager for change and are looking for a new direction for the country.
  • The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) is facing internal dissent with some members calling for continuity, while others complain about the party not holding a congress since 2011.
  • Young voters are concerned about persistent insecurity in the Far North, the anglophone crisis, high unemployment, cost of living, and tribalism.
  • The lack of a succession plan and political divisions exacerbate the risk of a disorderly transition of power, according to Fitch Ratings.
  • Cameroon's international standing is uncertain, with Fitch Ratings confirming the country's "B negative" rating in a November report.
  • The vote will likely be decisive for a generation looking for opportunities and change in a country where 60% of the population is aged under 25.

Statistics:

  • 92 years: The age of President Paul Biya.
  • 71: The age of Maurice Kamto, leader of the main opposition Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC).
  • 60%: The percentage of Cameroon's population aged under 25.
  • 74%: The rate of youth unemployment in the country.
  • B negative: Cameroon's rating according to Fitch Ratings.
  • October: The month when candidates must officially register for the presidential election.

Sources:

  • AFP
  • Fitch Ratings
  • "100,000 youth united behind Paul Biya in 2025" (organizers)
  • Maurice Kamto (MRC leader)
  • Aristide Mono (political analyst, Yaounde II University)