Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya made a rare public appearance on Tuesday at his first campaign rally ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, where the world’s oldest head of state is seeking an eighth term in office.
Addressing thousands of supporters at a stadium in Maroua, in the country’s Far North Region, Biya pledged to strengthen national security, create jobs for youth, and improve infrastructure and social services if re-elected.
“My goal, my fellow citizens, is for every young person, wherever they may be, to have opportunities that enable them to easily find a job or become an entrepreneur,” Biya told the cheering crowd.
The Far North, one of Cameroon’s poorest regions and home to nearly 20 percent of the nation’s 8.2 million registered voters, has long suffered from Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings. It is also a key political battleground, with Biya facing opposition from two former allies — Bello Bouba Maigari and Issa Tchiroma Bakary — both commanding strong local followings.
The rally marked Biya’s first public outing since returning from a weeklong trip to Switzerland. Though no official reason was given for his visit, the president — who has led Cameroon since 1982 — has often travelled abroad for medical treatment. Critics argue that his advanced age has severely limited his ability to govern effectively.
Under Biya’s more than four decades of rule, Cameroon has grappled with internal conflict, including a violent separatist crisis in its western regions and systemic corruption, which has hindered development despite the country’s vast oil and mineral wealth.
According to the United Nations, at least 43 percent of Cameroonians live in poverty, measured by income, education, and health indicators.
Despite these challenges, Biya is widely expected to secure another victory, as his leading rival Maurice Kamto was barred from contesting in August, and opposition ranks remain deeply divided.
Concerns about electoral credibility persist, with critics accusing officials of bias toward Biya. Many election officers have previously held posts within his administration, and the two-term presidential limit was abolished by parliament in 2008, enabling him to extend his decades-long rule.
