The re-election of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya for an eighth term at the age of 92 has ignited protests across his country and stirred debate beyond its borders including among Nigerians who are watching the unfolding crisis with a mix of disbelief and introspection.
Official results released on Monday showed Biya winning the October 12 presidential election with 53.66% of the vote, defeating opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who secured 35.19%. But the announcement was met with immediate unrest. In Douala, the country’s commercial capital, opposition supporters blocked roads, set tyres ablaze, and clashed with riot police. At least four people were reported dead over the weekend, and two more were allegedly shot near Tchiroma’s residence in Garoua on Monday.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, now holds the record as the world’s oldest serving head of state. If he completes this term, he will be nearly 100 years old. His government has dismissed allegations of electoral fraud, but opposition figures and international observers say the vote lacked transparency and credibility.
“This Is Not Leadership, It’s Ownership” — Nigerians React
In Abuja, Fairview Africa spoke with residents about Biya’s extended grip on power and how it compares to Nigeria’s own democratic journey since 1999.
“To be sincere, I don’t think that type of leadership is a good one,” said Victoria, a resident of the capital. “How will a man stay in power for over four decades? That’s a lot. This is no longer ruling—this is controlling. It looks as if he owns the country. I really do not like that idea. I prefer the Nigerian system.”
Mrs Roseline, another Abuja resident, echoed the sentiment. “For a president to stay in power over four decades is not good because our children are going to school to become president. But since he is not leaving the seat, they will not be able to be that president they want to.”
Their views reflect a broader concern about generational stagnation and the dangers of political entrenchment. While Nigeria has faced its own share of electoral controversies, coups, and governance challenges, the regular change of leadership—however flawed—has allowed for some degree of political renewal.
A Region of Ageing Presidents
Biya is not alone in his longevity. Togo’s president is 86, and Ivory Coast’s president, who also recently won re-election, is 83. These leaders govern some of the youngest populations in the world, raising questions about generational disconnect and the sustainability of such leadership models.
Murithi Mutiga, Africa Program Director at the International Crisis Group, told Reuters, “Biya now has a notably shaky mandate given many of his own citizens don’t believe he won the election. We call on Biya to urgently initiate a national mediation to prevent further escalation.”
Even Biya’s daughter, Brenda Biya, reportedly posted a now-deleted TikTok video urging voters not to support her father an extraordinary public rebuke that underscores the generational divide.
From Ally to Challenger
Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Biya’s main challenger, is himself a former government spokesperson and employment minister who broke ranks with the regime earlier this year. His transformation into a leading opposition figure has been one of the most dramatic shifts in Cameroonian politics in recent memory. His campaign drew large crowds and endorsements from a coalition of opposition parties and civil society groups.
Tchiroma has rejected the official results and declared himself the rightful winner. “We all know that the majority of Cameroon’s people voted for Issa Tchiroma Bakary,” said one protester in Douala. “It is inadmissible that President Paul Biya won in certain war zones.”
