Cameroonians headed to the polls on Sunday as veteran leader Paul Biya, 92, seeks an unprecedented eighth term. Biya, in power since 1982, commands a tight grip on state machinery, making his re-election widely anticipated.
Opposition forces have rallied around former government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma, 76, drawing crowds demanding the end of Biya’s long tenure. Tchiroma’s campaign has gained endorsements from multiple opposition parties and civic groups, presenting a united front for change.
Analysts say Biya’s hold on power remains strong due to a fragmented opposition and decades of political control tactics. Critics cite economic stagnation and rising social tensions as reasons for seeking an electoral shift in Cameroon’s 30-million population.
In Yaounde’s Briqueterie neighbourhood, driver Hassane Djbril said he hopes Tchiroma can deliver jobs and political reform. Biya’s government maintains that Cameroon is a democracy with regular elections, denying accusations of authoritarianism and electoral manipulation.
Voting opened at 0700 GMT and will close at 1700 GMT, with results expected within the next fifteen days. The president abolished term limits in 2008 and relies on a single-round electoral system to secure simple majority victories.
Francois Conradie, political economist at Oxford Economics, predicted Biya’s machine will likely secure him another term despite opposition efforts. Biya’s campaign slogan, “Greatness and Hope,” contrasts with citizens’ frustration over stagnant living conditions and unfulfilled promises of development.
Mechanic Herves Mitterand in Douala said, “Nothing has changed. We want to see real change, not just words repeated for decades.” Just over eight million Cameroonians were registered to vote, hoping their ballots might shape the nation’s uncertain political future.