Cameroon Opposition Leader Claims Victory Against World's Oldest President Paul Biya

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — October 14, 2025 — Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared victory in Cameroon’s presidential election, urging 92‑year‑old President Paul Biya to concede defeat and “honor the truth of the ballot box,” even though official results have not yet been released.

Opposition leader and FSNC candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared himself the winner of the 2025 #Cameroon presidential election, urging incumbent Paul Biya to concede defeat. Tchiroma won in the Northern regions that used to determine Paul Biya's dominance in the past. pic.twitter.com/GUezuKxppI

— Cameroon News Agency (CNA) (@CMRNewsAgency) October 14, 2025

In a Facebook video posted from his hometown of Garoua, the 76‑year‑old former minister and government spokesperson proclaimed victory, saying, “Our triumph is clear. It must be respected.” Tchiroma, who served under Biya for two decades before defecting earlier this year, vowed to publish regional vote tallies to substantiate his claim.

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council, the only body authorized to announce results, has until October 26 to declare a winner. Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji warned that any unauthorized declaration of results could constitute “high treason.”

The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement rejected Tchiroma’s claims, with deputy secretary‑general Gregoire Owona asserting that the opposition “did not win and lacks data from polling stations.” Electoral authorities have not released any preliminary results from the October 12 vote.

“I hope he will apologize and genuinely announce his resignation,” said a voter in Antananarivo, echoing a broader longing for change after Biya’s 43‑year rule. Tensions mounted in Garoua as security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds gathered near Tchiroma’s residence.

While local electoral law allows polling stations to post results, final tallies must be validated by the Constitutional Council. Cameroon's dollar‑bond yields climbed following Tchiroma’s announcement, reflecting investor unease over potential instability.

Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, is seeking an eighth consecutive term after first assuming power in 1982. Since independence in 1960, Cameroon has had only two presidents—Biya and his predecessor Ahmadou Ahidjo—underscoring the country’s limited experience with political transition.

Tchiroma rose as Biya’s chief challenger after resigning from government in June and uniting a cluster of opposition parties and civic groups. The election unfolded amid economic stagnation, youth unemployment, separatist violence, and entrenched corruption.

The standoff evokes the disputed 2018 election, when opposition candidate Maurice Kamto’s self‑declared victory led to his arrest and the violent dispersal of protesters. Kamto was barred from this year’s ballot after the Constitutional Council disqualified his party on procedural grounds.

More than eight million Cameroonians voted in the single‑round election, where the highest vote‑getter wins outright. Tchiroma has urged the military and civil service to “remain loyal to the republic, not the regime,” and implored Biya to show “political maturity” by accepting defeat.

If Biya is confirmed the winner, he will serve until 2032, reaching the age of 99 by the end of the term. The Constitutional Council’s ruling will determine whether Cameroon undergoes its first peaceful transfer of power since independence—or extends Biya’s four‑decade rule even further.