Paul Biya, the president of Cameroon since 1982, is one of Africa’s longest-serving heads of state. Also known as the Old Man, he has outlasted Cold War alliances, democratic waves, and generations of critics. Unlike leaders who stepped down after term limits, Biya has reshaped Cameroon’s constitution, extended his rule through tightly controlled elections, and silenced dissent with arrests, internet shutdowns, and military crackdowns.
His rule is tied to Cameroon politics, a system where power is concentrated in the presidency, the military, and a small elite from his home region. The ruling party, the CPDM, controls parliament, the courts, and media. Elections are held regularly, but opposition leaders are jailed, ballots are manipulated, and foreign observers are often barred. Meanwhile, African leadership, especially in Central Africa, has become a testing ground for how long autocrats can cling to power before public anger boils over. Biya’s survival tactics—divide-and-rule, patronage, and repression—mirror those in Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and Congo-Brazzaville.
At 91, Biya’s health is a state secret. No clear successor exists. The military and elite are divided. In 2024, protests erupted in the English-speaking regions after years of brutal conflict, and young Cameroonians are increasingly vocal online, despite internet blackouts. His government has cracked down on journalists, shut down NGOs, and arrested activists under anti-terrorism laws. Yet, the world still treats Cameroon as a stable ally—supplying arms, funding security forces, and ignoring human rights abuses in exchange for counterterrorism cooperation.
What you’ll find here aren’t just headlines—they’re snapshots of a nation stuck in a political time warp. From raids on opposition offices to behind-the-scenes power plays in Yaoundé, these reports show how one man’s grip on power reshapes lives, silences voices, and delays change. There’s no grand revolution here, just slow erosion. But erosion can become collapse.
Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared himself Cameroon's election winner, defying President Paul Biya's 43-year rule and sparking protests, government condemnation, and fears of violence as the Constitutional Council delays official results.
