The race for Cameroon’s presidency has officially begun. President Paul Biya signed a decree on Friday fixing October 12, 2025 as the date for the next presidential election.
The 92-year-old leader, who has ruled Cameroon for nearly 43 years, has not confirmed if he will seek another term. But as leader of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), many assume he might still feature.
“Candidates have until July 21 to announce their intention to run for office,” the official decree stated.
Observers say this could be a defining moment for Biya’s long grip on power—especially as the cracks within his support base are beginning to widen.
Key Allies Leave Biya’s Camp
In what many see as a clear political shift, two senior figures once loyal to Biya have declared their own presidential ambitions.
Employment Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary resigned in June to become the flagbearer of the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC).
Also exiting Biya’s shadow is former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, who will now contest under the National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP).
Both FSNC and NUDP were formerly allied with the ruling CPDM—a party that has dominated Cameroonian politics since independence in 1960.
The internal shake-up suggests that not all old comrades are ready to follow Biya into yet another campaign, should he decide to run.
Opposition Still Struggling to Unite
Cameroon’s opposition is not in the strongest shape either. There is still no single voice or united front to challenge the CPDM.
Leading figures like Maurice Kamto—runner-up in the 2018 presidential election—and Cabral Libii of the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (CPNR) have declared interest.
But with each one going solo, there is concern that a divided opposition could hand the ruling party an easy win.
Kamto remains Biya’s most vocal challenger. Libii, on the other hand, is popular among younger voters and urban dwellers seeking a different political tone.
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