Source : Sahel weather June 2025

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After a period of hesitation, the 92-year-old president finally cleared the air on Saturday June 28 by announcing his candidacy for the October 2025 presidential elections. With Cameroon's elections fast approaching, current president Paul Biya seemed to have been preparing for a new term for some time. On Tuesday June 24, the president in office since 1982 declared: "Let us together make Cameroon a land of great opportunities for economic and social development, in peace and unity". 

In addition, questions about his ability to lead the country have been raised by several civil society players. They question not only his ability to lead the country, given his advanced age, but also his legal legitimacy to stand for election. 

Indeed, on June 18, Léon Theiller Onana, an activist and town councillor for the Rassemblement démocratique du peuple camerounais (RDPC), declared that he had initiated procedures to request the holding of a ruling party congress before the October polls. He believes that the President's candidacy would be "legally inadmissible", going so far as to demonstrate that "any candidacy emanating from within the ranks of the RDPC would be vitiated", due to the party's statutory irregularity. Indeed, the ruling party's last congress dates back to 2011, which would legally prevent its participation in the elections.

On the other hand, the opposition candidate Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC) Maurice Kamto warns of the early signs of a refusal of democratic alternation. In an alarmist statement published on Facebook on June 17, he denounced a "military coup project announced" by the current government. It considers that the refusal to publish the electoral lists by ELECAM, the independent body responsible for organizing, managing and supervising the entire electoral process, is the first proof of a democratic failure. What's more, he goes so far as to warn France and the UN about their position. In his view, the decision to support the current government could call them into question if they were forced to remain in power.

The masks come off: two ministers resign and announce their candidacy in the presidential elections

Less than 24 hours after stepping down as Minister of Employment and breaking with President Paul Biya, Issa Tchiroma Bakary sprang a surprise by announcing his candidacy for the presidential elections. In a "Letter to Cameroonians", he outlined the main points of his future political program. Then it was the turn of the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maïgari. Without having declared his resignation, the Minister and President of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) broke with his 30-year alliance with Paul Biya's party (RDPC) by announcing his candidacy. This decision comes after much pressure from UNDP supporters. They want the party to present a presidential candidate, while denouncing the "poor governance" and "corruption" they blame on the current government. There seems to be a desire for change in Cameroon. 

Kamikaze drones and separatist conflicts: evidence of persistent insecurity? 

In parallel with the climate of political tension in Yaoundé, the country's security situation remains unstable, particularly in the Far North, North-West and South-West regions. On June 9, the Boko Haram terrorist group carried out a kamikaze drone attack on a Cameroonian military camp. This was the terrorist group's third consecutive drone attack since the end of March 2025. No casualties have been reported for this latest attack. In parallel, on June 24 and 25, a brigade and a health center were set on firein Sagmé, in the country's Far North, . The attack was carried out by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, and resulted in no fatalities. Meanwhile, the deadly conflict between separatist Anglophone groups and the forces of law and order has continued to rage severely since 2016, leaving the population in a climate of fear. Since the beginning of the crisis, 6,000 people have reportedly lost their lives and hundreds of thousands have had to flee their homes.

This insecurity is compounded by a fragile socio-economic context: up to 74% of young people are affected by unemployment, according to the chairman of the National Assembly's Education Committee. 

In addition, insecurity is at the root of massive population displacements which, according to a new report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), are vastly underestimated in Cameroon. Indeed, the country tops the list of the world's most neglected crises in terms of the number of people displaced. In 2023, there will be 1.1 million internally displaced persons, in addition to hundreds of refugees from Central Africa. This instability could have significant repercussions on voting and voter registration. 

Cameroon is living through a key moment in its history. The time for political change seems to be upon President Paul Byia, in the face of a population eager to exercise its right to vote. Pre-electoral agitation cannot overshadow the social, economic and security issues that remain, above all, at the heart of Cameroonians' concerns.  The next few weeks will be crucial in ensuring that the democratic electoral process runs smoothly and without interference.