By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, Cameroon – President Paul Biya was sworn in on Thursday, November 6, 2025, for yet another seven-year term, extending his more than four-decade rule after winning last month’s disputed election.
In a solemn ceremony at the National Assembly in Yaoundé named after him, the 92-year-old leader, Africa’s second-longest serving head of state, pledged to remain faithful to the confidence placed in him by the Cameroonian people and to work toward a “united, stable, and prosperous nation.”
Biya’s re-election was officially announced by the Constitutional Council on October 27 with 53.66% of the vote, and remains hotly contested. His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary of the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC), who garnered 35.19%, has denounced the outcome as “a constitutional coup.”
“The truth of the ballot is clear. The official report from our polling station compiled and secured by our representatives across the country demonstrates unequivocally that we won this election by a large majority,” Issa Tchiroma Bakary said.
“Their (those killed) sacrifice will never be in vain. Their blood reminds us that freedom, justice, and dignity are worth more than fear and repression. People of Cameroon, you turned out in large numbers despite intimidation and threats. This time, they will not stop us. We have already won. No falsified proclamation can erase the legitimacy given to us by the ballot box.”
Protests erupted across several cities following the announcement of the results. While the government confirmed at least five fatalities, opposition figures and civil society organisations insist the number is higher. A three-day lockdown earlier this week further reflected the deep unease surrounding Biya’s continued stay in power.
Munjah Vitalis Fagha, a political science lecturer at the University of Buea, told Associated Press that the political climate was “tense yet controlled,” adding that Biya’s inauguration unfolded “against calls for renewal and persistent concerns about governance and succession.” “Cameroon today faces a widening gap between the ruling elite and a disillusioned citizenry,” he noted.
For many Cameroonians, Biya’s new term inspires little optimism. Priscilla Ayimboh, a 40-year-old seamstress in Yaoundé, expressed her frustration bluntly. “I’m tired of Biya’s rule, and I no longer care what he does. It’s a pity.”
“I wonder what will become of Cameroon in the next seven years. There are no roads, water, or jobs,” she told Associated Press. Her sentiments echo the growing disillusionment among young people, who make up more than 70 per cent of Cameroon’s nearly 30 million citizens and have known no other president since Biya came to power in 1982.
Over his 43 years in power, Biya has weathered multiple political crises, including an armed separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions, Boko Haram attacks in the north, and persistent economic stagnation.
Supporters credit him with maintaining Cameroon’s territorial integrity and relative stability in a turbulent region. Critics, however, point to corruption, youth unemployment, and political repression as hallmarks of his rule. Biya’s long absences from the country, often spent in Switzerland, have also fueled debate over his health and fitness to lead.
The African Union and several regional blocs congratulated Biya on his re-election, calling for peace and stability. However, Western observers and human rights organisations have voiced concern over reports of irregularities, restricted media coverage, and arrests of protesters.
For Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Cameroon’s fragile stability, long seen as an anchor for Central Africa, is at risk of collapse. “Cameroon’s future is at stake as millions aspire to greater freedoms, accountability, and genuine democracy, which have not been obtained during the 43 years of rule of the current regime,” he cautioned.
For many, the veteran leader’s latest promise to build a “united and prosperous” Cameroon rings hollow.
