At 92, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, who has ruled for over 43 years, has again announced his bid to run for another mandate. In his statement released late on July 13, Biya said his “best is still to come”.
In a statement titled “Declaration of Candidacy for the 12 October 2025 Presidential Election by His Excellency Paul BIYA” released on his social media handles, Biya said he is running after listening to calls from the 10 regions of Cameroon.
In his statement, Biya said he has devoted his life and energy to caring for Cameroonians. “Ensuring the security and well-being of the sons and daughters of our beloved and beautiful country is the sacred duty to which I have devoted my time and energy since assuming the helm of State”, he said.
He went on to claim that “The results (of his rule) are palpable, visible and laudable”, even as the country is now plagued by crises, with locals also suffering from collapsing social amenities. Roads in most parts of the country are a nightmare. It is similar to access to clean water, which is a problem even in the country’s biggest towns and cities. Bribery and corruption is still a big issue in Cameroon, alongside other vices that have eaten up the fabric of the nation.
After touting the “palpable” results of his 43-year-long rule, which he did not particularly cite, Biya said, despite that, “… much remains to be done. In the face of an increasingly difficult international environment, the challenges facing us are more and more pressing”, he said
“In such a situation, I cannot shirk my mission. I have therefore decided to heed the numerous and insistent calls from the ten regions of our country and from the diaspora.
“I am a candidate for the 12 October 2025 presidential election.
“Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us.
“The well-being of our youth and women will be at the heart of my priorities. Together, there are no challenges we cannot meet.
“The best is still to come”, Biya declared.
Cameroonians will be heading to the polls on October 12, 2025, to decide on who will become the president. There had been much speculation in Cameroon as to whether Biya, given his advanced age and dwindling public appearance, would seek another mandate. The issue has now been put to rest with Biya declaring that he will be a candidate.
Meanwhile, a few days before the convening of the electorate, two allies serving in the Biya administration, Bello Bouba Maigari, Minister of Tourism and Leisure and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, resigned from their alliance with Biya after decades. They cited several grievances and have touted their intentions to run for office, too.
By Andrew Nsoseka
