A 92 year old leader stays in power again. Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon for 43 years. Now he has won his eighth term. On October 27, 2025, the Constitutional Council announced that Biya got 53.66 percent votes.
His main challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary got 35.19 percent. Supporters celebrated in Yaounde. At the same time protests filled the streets. People are asking a simple question. Is this a real win or just another disputed vote.
Key Takeaways
- Paul Biya wins eighth term with 53.66 percent votes
- Turnout stays low at around 58 percent
- Protests break out in big cities with deaths confirmed
- Vote difference looks smaller than 2018 election
- Opposition claims are rising on cheating and fear
- Political future of Cameroon remains filled with risk
Cameroon voted on October 12. The country faces a separatist war in English speaking regions and unemployment hurting young people. Many
people worry about the weak economy. Biya promised peace and order. Tchiroma promised jobs and no corruption. More than 8 million people registered to vote. Boycotts in conflict areas kept many away from polling stations.
The Official Numbers Who Got What
The Council checked results from 31,653 polling stations. Votes counted came to about 4.5 million. Here is the table of the top names.
| Candidate | Party or Affiliation | Vote Share (%) | Estimated Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Biya | Cameroon Peoples Democratic Union | 53.66 | ~2.41 million |
| Issa Tchiroma Bakary | Front for the National Salvation | 35.19 | ~1.58 million |
| Christian Fandio Libii | Party of the Future | 3.41 | ~153,000 |
| Franki Otchou | Independent | 2.45 | ~110,000 |
| Hermine Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya | Cameroon Democratic Union | 1.66 | ~75,000 |
| Joseph Emmanuel Ateba Osih | Social Democratic Front | 1.21 | ~54,000 |
Others got less than 1 percent. Biya had 71 percent in 2018. The drop is big. It shows people in cities are not happy anymore. The system in Cameroon has only one round. The top name wins.
How Tension Started On The Streets
Right after voting. Opposition groups shared their own results from polling sheets. They said Tchiroma led in cities like Douala with up to 74 percent.
On October 18 early numbers from officials showed Biya ahead. People started shouting fraud. Tchiroma said he would share results from areas covering 80 percent of voters.
From October 23 to 26 protests hit Garoua and Douala. Roads blocked. Tires burned. Police reacted heavy. At least four died in Douala. Tchiroma said two more died near his house in Garoua.
On October 27 the results became final with heavy security around the capital. Biya gave a short message and asked for peace. But fear stayed. Shops closed. Schools closed.
On October 28 unrest continued in the north and west. Roadblocks and videos online spread fast.
The Catholic Church asked for calm. They liked the vote planning but want full truth. African Union and European Union teams saw problems in transparency but did not reject the result.
People Are Split
Youth and city people are angry. One user wrote online that it was not an election but a selection. Under 70 percent unemployment for youth. They want change. They like Tchiroma becoming a rival after being in Biya team. His rallies brought 50,000 in Bamenda. Hashtags like CameroonDecides2025 grow. Many online voices reject the result.
Rural people stay with Biya. They feel he gave roads and fought Boko Haram. They believe change may bring chaos. They trust him more.
Women and English speaking people feel ignored. Many did not vote because they fear violence. One person in Bamenda said the silence after the result tells everything.
What Gives Hope And What Brings Worry
Some positive signs
- Opposition showed strength and did not give up
- People in dangerous areas voted to protect their rights
- GDP grew 4 percent last year and COVID handling worked
Major concerns
- Big gap between official numbers and opposition numbers
- Biya age is 92 and he stays away from public events
- Deaths and arrests after election create fear among citizens
Even Biya own daughter Brenda asked to vote no. That tells the internal pressure.
Why It Matters For The Future Of Cameroon
This win keeps Biya in power till 2032. He will be 99 then. Many experts call it a political system that protects one leader. Protests may make the Anglophone conflict worse.
More than 700,000 people already left their homes. Investors are already going away. Foreign investment dropped 15 percent this year. People want work and peace. They hope the government will listen. They fear jail and silence.
Tchiroma now calls for truth or marches. The world looks at Cameroon. Some countries congratulate Biya. Some global groups ask for open talks. Cameroon was once known as a stable country. Now the future feels very unsure. Change looks near. Trouble also looks near.
