92-year-old Paul Biya sworn in for 8th term as Cameroon President

Cameroon’s long-serving leader, Paul Biya, has been sworn in for another seven-year term as president after winning a disputed election last month.

The 92-year-old, who has ruled the Central African nation since 1982, took the oath of office on Thursday in a ceremony held at the National Assembly in Yaoundé.

Biya, the world’s oldest sitting president, secured 54% of the votes, according to official results released by the electoral commission. His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who polled 35%, rejected the outcome, insisting he was the rightful winner and accusing authorities of widespread fraud — a claim the government has dismissed.

Despite leading Cameroon for over four decades, Biya only attended one campaign rally before the October election, fueling debates over his health and fitness to govern.

In his brief inauguration speech, Biya promised to “safeguard national unity, strengthen security, and continue reforms for economic growth,” while urging citizens to support his administration.

Observers say his re-election underscores the dominance of his ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and the weakness of the opposition in a country grappling with economic hardship and separatist conflicts in its Anglophone regions.

Biya’s continued stay in power has drawn mixed reactions across Cameroon — with his supporters hailing him as a symbol of stability, while critics accuse him of authoritarianism and presiding over decades of corruption and underdevelopment.