Yaoundé – Cameroon’s president Paul Biya has been sworn in for another seven-year term after securing victory in last month’s controversial election, which the opposition has dismissed as fraudulent. The 92-year-old leader, who has ruled the country since 1982, took the oath of office on Thursday before Parliament in Yaoundé, the capital city described by residents as heavily guarded and tense.
Biya pledged to remain loyal to the trust of Cameroonians and work towards a “united, stable and prosperous” nation. He commended security forces for quelling the violent protests that erupted after the October 19 vote but did not address concerns over the excessive use of force.
Government reports confirm at least five deaths linked to the unrest, although opposition and civil society organisations insist the number is much higher. A three-day lockdown was enforced earlier this week after Biya’s main rival, former minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, declared himself the rightful winner and accused the ruling party of manipulating the election.
The Constitutional Council announced Biya’s victory on October 27, giving him 53.66 percent of the vote against Tchiroma’s 35.19 percent. Judges dismissed eight opposition complaints, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. Tchiroma, who leads the National Salvation Front and previously served in Biya’s cabinet, described the outcome as “a constitutional coup” and vowed to keep challenging the results.
“The will of the Cameroonian people was trampled that day, our sovereignty stolen in broad daylight,” Tchiroma said in a statement. He has called for international sanctions against Cameroonian officials over the crackdown on dissent.
Biya’s inauguration took place against a backdrop of deep political division, economic stagnation and ongoing conflict in the country’s Anglophone regions. Political analyst Munjah Vitalis Fagha from the University of Buea described the atmosphere as tense but controlled, marked by growing frustration between the ruling elite and citizens calling for political renewal.
The veteran leader, who has been in power for over four decades, remains Africa’s second-longest serving president. A 2008 constitutional change removed term limits, allowing him to extend his rule indefinitely. His critics accuse him of ruling with an iron hand and spending long periods in Europe while delegating state affairs to loyal officials.
More than 70 percent of Cameroon’s nearly 30 million citizens are under the age of 35, meaning most have never known another leader. If Biya completes his term, he will approach his 100th birthday, having spent almost half a century at the helm.
During his address, he promised to prioritise the welfare of women and young people, and to fight corruption and insecurity. But many citizens remain sceptical about change.
“I’m tired of Biya’s rule and I no longer care whatever he does,” said Yaoundé resident Priscilla Ayimboh. “There are no roads, no water and no jobs. I wonder what will become of Cameroon in the next seven years.”
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