Reactions Pour In as Paul Biya’s Laughable Re-Election Bid Stuns the World

The announcement, posted on his official X and Facebook accounts, described his candidacy as a response to “numerous and insistent calls from all regions of Cameroon and the diaspora”. Biya added: “Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face.”

The news, though expected, drew swift reactions from Cameroonians and the world — ranging from anger and mockery to loyalty and quiet support.

Global Headlines: “World’s Oldest President Runs Again”

The BBC led its coverage by calling Biya “the world’s oldest head of state”, noting he has never lost an election since taking power in 1982. The broadcaster reminded readers of the president’s long absences from public view — including a six‑week disappearance last year that fueled rumors of his death.

The BBC also quoted citizens in Yaoundé, many speaking anonymously out of fear:

“Never in the history of nations have I seen a man of that age declare his candidacy. I thought he would finally rest,” one said.

CNN described his candidacy as the continuation of a 43‑year “iron grip,” even as he faces defections from long‑time northern allies and mounting criticism at home. CNN also noted how Biya’s government bans discussion of his health as a national security matter.

Le Monde Afrique called the move “predictable but provocative,” given the recent resignations of senior ministers like Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maïgari, who are now running against him.

Domestic Reactions: Frustration and Calls to Resist

At home, some Cameroonians took to social media to mock the announcement, while others spoke cautiously. Many residents told the BBC they felt unsafe commenting openly.

Opposition leader Edith Kah Walla, president of the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP), issued one of the sharpest responses:

“Dear Cameroonians, it’s up to us to decide. Those who control this candidacy also control the trio of electoral fraud: ELECAM, MINAT, and the Constitutional Council. Either we keep doing what we’ve done for 30 years or we break out of their trap. The choice is ours.”

Veteran human rights lawyer Alice Nkom also weighed in, with trademark irony:

“I’m not a candidate,” she quipped, mocking Biya’s apparent inability to personally deliver his own announcement.

Exiled journalist Rémy Ngono, writing from France, described the situation bluntly:

“Paul Biya, unable to speak or stand, had his eighth-term bid announced by press release. At 92.”

These voices reflect a growing sense of cynicism and exhaustion, particularly as Biya’s government faces allegations of corruption, rights abuses, and stagnation.

Loyalists Hold the Line

Not all reactions were critical. State-aligned voices and supporters praised Biya’s experience and steady hand. Civil servant Ngono Marius told the BBC:

“The president still has much to offer the Cameroonian people. If he is a candidate, it means he’s capable to lead.”

Consultant Sylvia Tipa added:

“Maybe there’s no one better than him. So far he has done a lot for the nation — conflict management, stability. Perhaps his long stay in power is even God’s will.”

Oswald Baboke, who oversees the president’s communications and social media, has maintained Biya’s image as steady and deliberate. Contrary to earlier speculation and online rumors, Baboke remains loyal to Biya and continues to lead messaging on his behalf. There is no record of him criticizing the president.

A Fractured Field and a Familiar Playbook

Biya’s announcement comes as his ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) faces unprecedented cracks. The departure of northern stalwarts like Tchiroma and Bello Bouba, along with a crowded field of opposition candidates — Maurice Kamto, Joshua Osih, Akere Muna, Cabral Libii — sets the stage for a tense contest.

Yet analysts like Collins Molua Ikome, quoted by CNN, caution that unless opposition parties unite, they are unlikely to unseat the CPDM. “They don’t stand a chance as individual candidates,” Ikome said. “Only a transitional coalition could threaten Biya.”

Attempts to build such coalitions have been declared illegal by Biya’s government in the past — which Human Rights Watch calls a systematic suppression of dissent.

The Question of Legacy

Beyond strategy and alliances, Biya’s record hangs over this election. His four decades in power have been marked by claims of fraud, repression, and missed opportunities for development, even as his loyalists credit him for avoiding civil war and maintaining a semblance of stability.

The president’s long absences and frailty have only intensified speculation over who really runs Cameroon — with some critics pointing to his wife Chantal Biya and close aides like Ngoh Ngoh as the real power brokers.

A Country at a Crossroads

As the October 2025 election approaches, Biya’s candidacy crystallizes Cameroon’s deeper question: how much longer can a nation accept the same script while expecting a different ending?

On social media, satire captured the moment. The platform Le TGV de l’info wrote:

“Oswald Baboke, running Biya’s social media, says the man — whom even ministers rarely see — is running again. At 92, the world’s oldest president. But 2025… that’s the terminus.”

Whether it is or not now depends, as Kah Walla said, on the people.