Paul Biya, World’s Oldest President, Wins Cameroon Election Again

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council declared President Paul Biya, aged 92, as the winner of the October 12 national election, extending his rule until 2032.

Key Highlights

• Oldest Sitting President: Paul Biya is now the world’s oldest serving head of state, having first assumed office in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo.
• Tenure Extension: Biya benefited from a 2008 constitutional amendment that removed presidential term limits, enabling his prolonged stay in power.
• Post-Election Clashes: The announcement of results triggered protests and violent clashes between security forces and opposition supporters, leaving at least four people dead as demonstrators demanded credible and transparent results.
• Demographic Divide: The election underscored the sharp generational divide in Cameroon — over 70% of its 30 million population is under 35, while Biya has ruled for more than four decades, longer than most citizens have been alive.
• Political Context: Biya’s Cameroon has been marked by authoritarian governance, limited political freedoms, and ongoing conflict in the Anglophone regions. Critics say his continued rule reflects democratic backsliding and centralised power.

About Paul Biya

• Born: February 13, 1933
• In Power Since: November 6, 1982
• Political Party: Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM)
• Longest-serving non-royal leader in the world (after Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea).