News Update
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state at 92, has declared his intention to run for re-election.
In 2008, Biya scrapped term limits, clearing the way for him to run indefinitely.
His plan to run for re-election for the 8th time was disclosed today, July 13, in a post on the President’s official X account.
It reads: “I am a candidate in the presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face.”
Biya, who is seeking a new term that could keep him in office until he is nearly 100, came to power more than four decades ago in 1982, when his predecessor Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned.
His health is the subject of frequent speculation, most recently last year when he disappeared from public view for 42 days.
His re-election bid had been widely anticipated but not formally confirmed until Sunday’s social media post.
Biya had been posting regularly on his verified X handle in the buildup to the announcement.
Sunday’s announcement is sure to revive debate over Biya’s fitness for office. He seldom makes public appearances, often delegating responsibilities to the powerful chief of staff of the president’s office.
Last October, he returned to Cameroon after a 42-day absence that sparked speculation he was unwell. The government claimed he was fine but banned any discussion of his health, saying it was a matter of national security.
Under Biya, Cameroon has faced economic challenges and insecurity on several fronts.