He will be president until he is almost a hundred years old. Paul Biya elected to an eighth term
Announcement of results there were tensions and street clashes. At least four people were killed in Douala, and the opposition also reported shots fired near Tchiroma's home in Garoui. The authorities deny electoral fraud, while the opposition rejects the results. In recent days, parts of the country have also seen disruptions in internet access and the closure of businesses due to fear of unrest. The turnout was approximately 57.7 percent.
Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and has maintained tight control over the political scene for decades. In 2008 led to the abolition of the presidential term limitwhich enabled him to run in the next elections. Since then, he has won regularly, usually against opposition who questioned the level playing field.
This year's campaign was enlivened by Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who broke with the government this year. He managed to gather around himself a coalition of opposition parties and civic organizations he drew large crowds at rallies, giving his supporters hope for a real challenge for the incumbent president. After the official results were announced, Tchiroma did not recognize them.
The 92-year-old's victory is part of a broader problem of generational dissonance. Cameroon is one of the demographically youngest countries in the world. The median age is approximately 18-19 years, and the share of people 65+ is less than 3%. Critics point out that yes great difference between the rulers and the ruled limits representativeness and makes it difficult to respond to the needs of young society – from education and work to digitalization.
Is it good that such an elderly politician remains president?
The answer requires separating the person from the institution. On the one hand, age may mean experience and continuity of leadership, which can be perceived as stabilizing in a country with ongoing tensions. On the other hand, such a long period of time favors petrification (consolidation in a specific form that is resistant to change) of the power system, narrowing of decision-making circles and weakening of accountability mechanisms.
The risk of government being ruled by an informal court and advisors, rather than by a fully effective president, is therefore increasing raises questions about the transparency and effectiveness of the state. This is compounded by concerns about his health and ability to serve a full seven-year term in office – in a country where public debate on the condition of the head of state is sometimes limited.
How impersonal institutions work is also important. The constitution provides that if the office becomes vacant, the duties of the head of state are temporarily taken over by the chairman of the Senate until elections are scheduled within 120 days. Such a provision reduces the risk of a power vacuum, but it will not replace open political competition, independent courts and credible elections.
Biya's supporters see him as a guarantor of continuity, while his opponents see him as a brake on modernization and democracy. After re-election, the test will be whether the authorities will launch an inclusive political dialogue, ensure greater transparency of the electoral process and open space for a younger generation of politicians.
