As Cameroon awaits its official presidential election results, Paul Biya appears on track to secure yet another seven-year term, one that could see him become the first president in modern history to reach 100 years old while still in office.
Xinhua reported that Cameroon’s National Commission for the Final Counting of Votes handed over the tentative results of the Oct. 12 presidential election to the Constitutional Council on Tuesday in Yaoundé.
Though not officially released, sources from the commission and Jeune Afrique indicated that President Paul Biya led with 53–54% of the votes, ahead of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who secured about 35%.
Born on February 13, 1933, Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, a tenure spanning over four decades. His current term, which began after the 2018 election, officially ends later this year.
Should he win re-election, his next term would run from late 2025 through late 2032, meaning he would be 99 years old when it concludes and just months shy of turning 100 in February 2033.
However, if the inauguration or term timeline extends into early 2026, Biya could remain in office long enough to mark his 100th birthday while still president; otherwise, he would turn 100 shortly after leaving office.
Opposition victory claim stirs tension in Cameroon
Biya’s re-election, however, has not been without fierce opposition, following recent outbursts led by opposition candidate Tchiroma Bakary.
Once a close ally of Biya and his spokesman for two decades, Tchiroma had emerged as the main challenger in the election.
Bakary declared himself the winner of Cameroon’s 12 October presidential election shortly after the exercise, claiming victory.
Tchiroma’s declaration, made in a five-minute video posted on social media, drew swift condemnation from the government and Biya’s ruling party, who described the move as “illegal.”
The government reiterated that only results announced by the Constitutional Council could be considered official.
Apart from main opposition contender Tchiroma Bakary, President Paul Biya is also facing dissent from within his own household. In a viral TikTok video, his 27-year-old daughter Brenda Biya shocked Cameroonians by declaring she would not vote for him in the October 12 election.
“Do not vote for Paul Biya, not because of me, but because he has made too many people suffer,” she said, adding, “I hope we will have another president,” before announcing she was cutting ties with her family and their financial support.
The council has until 27 October to declare the winner.
Tchiroma, 76, vowed to “defend” what he called his victory, raising fears of unrest in the Central African nation.
A presidency defined by longevity and control
If Biya clinches another victory, it will extend a reign that has defined Cameroon’s political life for more than half a century. Under his watch, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has maintained an iron grip on power, thanks to constitutional amendments, strong state control, and a fragmented opposition.
In 2008, Cameroon’s parliament abolished presidential term limits, paving the way for Biya to contest indefinitely. Supporters describe him as a symbol of stability in a volatile region, while critics argue that his extended rule has come at the cost of democratic renewal and economic innovation.
Biya’s possible re-election would carry global symbolism, a 92-year-old leader extending his mandate into his late 90s, governing a youthful nation where the median age is just 18.
For many Cameroonians, the moment is both historic and uncertain, raising questions about the future of leadership in one of Africa’s longest-standing regimes.
