Cameroon’s 92-Year-Old President Paul Biya is currently facing emerging internal revolt from his former loyalist ahead of October poll.
At 92, Cameroonian President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state is facing growing political turbulence as two of his long-time allies have defected to challenge his more than four-decade grip on power. The country heads to a high-stakes presidential election in October that could mark the end of Biya’s era.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon with authoritarian control since 1982, is now contending with an internal shake-up in his ruling coalition. On June 26, Employment Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary resigned from the government and announced his presidential candidacy under the Cameroon National Salvation Front. Just two days later, Minister of State and former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari also threw his hat into the ring.
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Both men are prominent figures from the politically significant and traditionally pro-government northern region of Cameroon. Their back-to-back defections have sparked speculation about mounting discontent within the ruling elite. However, the Biya administration has downplayed the developments. The government issued a brief statement replacing Tchiroma without acknowledging his resignation, while ruling party officials dismissed Maigari’s move as routine.
“Nothing new here,” wrote Fame Ndongo, communications head for the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), in a state-run newspaper column. He insisted Biya had long foreseen these departures, calling them part of “the classic political game in an advanced liberal democracy.”
Although the CPDM’s internal rules automatically make Biya its presidential candidate, he has yet to publicly confirm whether he will seek another term. Meanwhile, his rare public appearances and widespread rumors about his declining health have added to the political uncertainty.
Familiar Rivals Return
Tchiroma and Maigari are not new challengers. Both contested against Biya in the pivotal 1992 election — Tchiroma having just emerged from prison, and Maigari returning from exile. However, in subsequent years, both rejoined the political establishment and became key allies of the regime.
Their long-standing support for Biya has come under scrutiny, especially from constituents in the North. Critics argue that their alignment with the regime has failed to deliver basic infrastructure or economic relief to the impoverished region.
“Northern Cameroonians are rotting in poverty,” said Severin Tchokonte, a political science professor at the University of Garoua. “Supporting the regime all this time amounts to betraying those people.”
In an attempt to rebrand himself, Tchiroma acknowledged past failures at a rally in Garoua in June. “Admittedly, we didn’t manage to lift you from poverty yesterday,” he said. “But today, if we come together, we can do it.”
Rising Tensions and the Opposition’s Dilemma
Cameroon’s 2018 presidential election was marred by violence, low voter turnout (53%), and widespread disillusionment. The CPDM’s longstanding strategy of co-opting opposition figures may now be backfiring as the economic crisis deepens and social unrest brews online and offline.
Yet, not everyone sees Tchiroma and Maigari as genuine alternatives. Critics accuse them of acting as spoilers so-called “presidential puppets” meant to dilute opposition momentum, especially from Maurice Kamto, the leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), who has emerged as a potent challenger to Biya.
“Tchiroma and Bello have long been part of the CPDM machinery,” Tchokonte explained. “They could be trying to split the opposition vote to neutralize the CRM’s growing influence, particularly in the North.”
Kamto’s party remains one of the few with widespread appeal across regions, posing a significant threat to Biya’s dominance. According to opposition figure Anicet Ekane, leader of the Manidem party, there is now a strong “cross-regional demand for change” that is weakening the regime’s hold over traditional voting blocs.
“It’s becoming harder for the ruling elite to dictate to the people how to vote,” Ekane said. “We could be heading for a national wave of resistance.”
Biya Clings to Power
Despite the growing dissent, President Biya has shown no signs of backing down. In a speech earlier this year, he dismissed opposition calls for change as “sirens of chaos” from “irresponsible individuals.” He reaffirmed his commitment to lead, stating, “My determination to serve you remains intact.”
As the October elections draw near, Biya’s political survival will depend not just on suppressing dissent, but on whether Cameroonians, especially the youth and disaffected voters are willing to accept more of the same or demand a break from the past.
With a population of 28 million, many mired in poverty, and a political elite under pressure, Cameroon stands at a crossroads. Whether the growing fractures within the ruling establishment mark the beginning of real political transition or merely a rebranding of the status quo remains to be seen.
