YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon- Voting has begun across Cameroon as citizens take part in a presidential election that could see President Paul Biya extend his more than four-decade rule. The 92-year-old leader, the world’s oldest serving head of state, is widely expected to secure another term in office, despite facing 11 challengers.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time and will close at 18:00. More than eight million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the one-round contest.
Biya has governed Cameroon since 1982, winning every election over the past two decades with more than 70% of the vote. His long tenure has made him a dominant figure in the country’s political landscape, but also a symbol of entrenched power.
Political scientist Stéphane Akoa said that while the system remains heavily tilted in Biya’s favour, this year’s campaign has been “much livelier” than previous ones, raising hopes of possible surprises.
The president maintained a low profile throughout the campaign, appearing publicly only once since May. His rally in Maroua, a key city in the Far North region, drew a modest crowd compared with that of his main challenger, former employment minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
Bakary, 79, left Biya’s government earlier this year and has since rallied significant support, particularly after popular opposition figure Maurice Kamto was barred from contesting. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have criticised Kamto’s exclusion, calling it a blow to the credibility of the Cameroon election.
Despite Cameroon’s economic potential, around 40% of its citizens live below the poverty line, and youth unemployment remains high. Many young voters express frustration over poor living conditions and limited opportunities, yet few have taken to the streets in protest.
The government has accredited more than 55,000 domestic and international observers, including a delegation from the African Union. The Constitutional Council is expected to announce the official results by 26 October.
Voting is taking place amid ongoing unrest in the country’s English-speaking regions, where separatist conflict has disrupted life since 2016. Turnout in these areas is expected to remain low, as it was in the 2018 Cameroon election.
