Cameroon will hold its long-delayed legislative and local elections on February 7, 2027, President Paul Biya has announced.
The decision follows two previous postponements of the elections, which have extended the terms of lawmakers and municipal councillors.
According to Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters, the 93-year-old president confirmed the election date through a decree read on public radio on Monday, November 9.
The announcement comes amid political tensions, opposition restrictions and continuing questions about Cameroon’s leadership.
Cameroon elections scheduled after two delays
Cameroon’s legislative and local elections were postponed twice under President Biya’s government.
As a result, lawmakers’ terms were extended until December 20, 2026. Municipal councillors were also granted extensions until February 28, 2027.
The newly announced February 7 vote will allow Cameroonians to elect representatives to parliament and local councils.
However, the elections will take place against a backdrop of political uncertainty.
Biya has governed Cameroon since 1982, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.
At 93, he is also the world’s oldest serving head of state.
Opposition faces pressure ahead of Cameroon elections
The election announcement follows a disputed presidential vote in October 2025.
Biya secured another term, but the result triggered widespread protests.
According to AFP, lawyers cited by Human Rights Watch said security forces detained as many as 2,000 people during the subsequent crackdown.
Some detainees reportedly remain in custody.
Meanwhile, authorities suspended the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC) in October 2026.
The party is led by opposition politician Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who challenged Biya in the presidential election.
Bakary rejected the official outcome and declared himself the winner.
He later went into exile in the Gambia after urging supporters to defend his claimed victory.
The suspension of his party has raised further concerns about political competition ahead of the upcoming elections.
Biya’s health and succession remain major issues
Questions about President Biya’s health and ability to govern have continued to shape Cameroon’s political debate.
The president returned to Yaounde in August after spending more than two months in Geneva.
His extended absence drew criticism from opposition figures.
Furthermore, Cameroon has restricted media discussion of the president’s health since 2024, following rumours about his death.
The country is also awaiting a government reshuffle that Biya announced nearly a year ago.
Another unresolved issue concerns the appointment of a vice president.
A constitutional reform in April 2026 restored the position, with its holder expected to succeed the president in the event of his death.
However, the position has not yet been filled.
February vote could test Cameroon’s political climate
The February 2027 elections will be an important test of Cameroon’s political environment following the disputed presidential vote.
Opposition parties face uncertainty, while concerns about political freedoms and government accountability remain.
The government has now established a date for the long-delayed elections.
Nevertheless, questions remain over the conditions under which candidates will campaign and voters will cast their ballots.
The coming months will determine how Cameroon prepares for its first legislative and local elections since the repeated postponements.