Cameroonians went to the polls on Sunday to decide the future of their nation, as long-serving President Paul Biya, aged 92, seeks to extend his rule into a record eighth term.
The vote, seen as a crucial test of the country’s political direction, comes amid mounting calls for generational change and concerns about democratic stagnation.
Polling stations across the Central African nation opened at 8:00 a.m. local time and are expected to close at 6:00 p.m., with more than eight million registered voters casting their ballots in the one-round presidential election.
Biya, who has governed since 1982, faces 11 challengers, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a 79-year-old former minister who has emerged as his main rival after the country’s Constitutional Council barred 2018 runner-up Maurice Kamto from contesting.
Despite Biya’s decades-long dominance, analysts say the atmosphere this year feels different.
“We shouldn’t be naive — the ruling system still holds the upper hand — but this campaign has been livelier than in previous years, and that alone could produce surprises,” said political analyst Stephane Akoa, speaking to AFP.
During the campaign, Biya maintained his trademark low profile, appearing publicly only once since May — at a rally in Maroua, in the politically strategic Far North region. The president, who looked visibly fit during the appearance, urged citizens to remain loyal to his leadership.
“Our progress may be slow, but it is steady. Cameroon must not gamble with its peace and unity,” Biya told supporters.
However, enthusiasm appeared stronger for Bakary, who resigned from Biya’s government in June to join the opposition. Thousands of young supporters greeted him in Maroua with banners declaring “Tchiroma the Saviour.”
“We have endured decades of stagnation. It’s time to turn the page,” Bakary told a cheering crowd. “Cameroon deserves leadership that listens, not one that rules by habit.”
Half of Cameroon’s population is under 20 years old, and many say they are frustrated by economic hardship and limited opportunities.
“We want jobs, better education, and clean water — not empty promises,” said Sandra Nchout, a 22-year-old first-time voter in Yaoundé.
According to World Bank data, about 40 percent of Cameroonians live below the poverty line, and unemployment among urban youth stands at 35 percent.
Despite being one of Central Africa’s most resource-rich nations, widespread inequality and corruption persist.
Akoa said the youth population is eager for change but remains cautious.
“There is a visible hunger for transformation, but not yet the courage to take to the streets as seen in Tunisia or Madagascar,” he observed.
Authorities say more than 55,000 local and international observers, including representatives from the African Union, are monitoring the election.
The Constitutional Council has until October 26 to announce official results.
The polls are being conducted under tight security, particularly in the English-speaking regions of the country, where a separatist conflict has simmered since 2016. Voter turnout in those areas was low in the 2018 election, and tensions remain high.
Meanwhile, the government has warned against online groups attempting to publish independent vote tallies, calling it an effort to “manipulate public opinion.”
As voting continues, the question remains whether the world’s oldest serving head of state will tighten his grip on power or if Cameroonians will deliver a rare political upset.
“Whatever happens, this election is a mirror reflecting how much patience and hope remain among our people,” Akoa added.
