Is Biya Being Pushed to Contest in 2025 by Media Speculation?

In the past 72 hours, numerous news outlets within and outside Cameroon have circulated claims that 91-year-old incumbent President Paul Biya has confirmed his candidacy for the 2025 presidential elections.

These reports surfaced just as President Biya returned to Cameroon after a month-long stay abroad, sparking speculation that his extended time in Europe may have included consultations with the Élysée Palace on this contentious issue.

International journalist and founder of the Foreign Press Association, Kennedy Wandera, disclosed this information in a post on X on Thursday, August 22, citing The East African as his source.

“Cameroon is due to hold its next presidential election in 2025. Longtime President Paul Biya will be 93. He has confirmed that he will contest,” Wandera stated.

However, these claims remain unsubstantiated, as President Biya has not made any public declaration regarding his candidacy. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has also not issued a statement on who its presidential candidate will be, though some party supporters and loyalists have urged Biya to run again.

While Paul Biya has shown no intention of stepping down since he took office in 1982, it is not typical for him to announce his candidacy early. Elections are expected to take place in October next year.

Historically, Biya has declared his candidacy roughly two months before the election. This announcement is usually preceded by party supporters rallying in what are known as “motions of support.” In the 2018 presidential election, as in previous years, Biya entered the race in July—two months before the election.

“Dear Compatriots in Cameroon & the Diaspora, Aware of the challenges we must take up together to ensure a more united, stable & prosperous Cameroon, I am willing to respond positively to your overwhelming calls. I will stand as your candidate in the upcoming presidential election,” Biya declared on July 13, 2018.

The recent speculations about his candidacy stand in stark contrast to the current political landscape.

From 1982 through 2018, Biya has faced little challenge to his rule, whether from the opposition, his own CPDM party, or factors related to his health and age. However, at 91, Biya is now encountering significant opposition, even from within his party, with some urging him to step down due to his advanced age and prolonged time in power.

A few weeks ago, Léon Théiller Onana, a CPDM municipal councillor from Monatele in the Center Region, penned a letter urging Biya to step down. “We have made a commitment to personally challenge you before the start of the next electoral campaign,” Onana wrote.

Biya’s age has also raised serious concerns about his ability to govern. Critics argue that the country currently feels abandoned, with an apparent leadership vacuum at the top due to Biya’s perceived incapacity.

Mimi Mefo Info