Vote counting under way in Cameroon’s presidential election as Paul Biya seeks eighth term

Vote counting is under way in Cameroon following Sunday’s presidential election, where 92-year-old President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state, is seeking to extend his 43-year rule.

Biya, who has governed the Central African nation since 1982, is facing nine challengers in the tightly controlled poll. If re-elected, he will serve an eighth consecutive term, extending his mandate until 2032.

Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji described the voting process as “hitch-free” across much of the country. However, reports from several regions painted a more complex picture.

In the English-speaking western regions, where separatist groups have long opposed Yaoundé’s authority, calls for an election boycott led to low turnout and isolated incidents of violence.

In the north, local media reported clashes between security forces and armed groups, though details remain limited.

The final results are expected within 15 days, according to Cameroon’s electoral commission.

Opposition parties have already raised concerns about the fairness of the vote, citing restrictions on rallies, limited access to state media, and alleged intimidation of supporters.

In the lead-up to the election, controversy flared when the Constitutional Council barred prominent opposition leader Maurice Kamto, aged 71, from contesting. Kamto, who challenged Biya’s 2018 victory and claimed widespread fraud, was widely regarded as the president’s main rival.

His exclusion has fueled criticism that the political playing field remains heavily tilted in favor of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Despite growing calls for political renewal, Biya continues to command strong support from loyalists who credit him with maintaining stability in a volatile region.

As ballots are tallied, both domestic observers and international partners are watching closely. For many Cameroonians, the election is more than a contest of power — it is a test of whether real change is still possible after more than four decades under the same leader.