Biya’s Half-Century Rule Faces Test as Cameroon Heads to Polls

Cameroon heads to the polls on October 12, 2025, in an election that could unsettle the country no matter the outcome. Incumbent Paul Biya, in power since 1982, is seeking another term that would extend his rule to half a century by 2032. While his lengthy tenure has provided a degree of regulatory predictability for international partners, his continued dominance has fueled separatist anger in English-speaking regions and failed to curb Boko Haram’s growth. The exclusion of key opposition figures from contesting and heightened ethnic tensions surrounding regional power-sharing further threaten to ignite widespread unrest. Analysts warn that this election could either prolong the status quo or trigger a volatile transition, challenging the nation’s fragile cohesion and potentially destabilizing the broader Central African region.

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