On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has dismissed an appeal by opposition leader Maurice Kamto to be reinstated on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election, a move widely seen as clearing the path for President Paul Biya to extend his 42-year rule.
Kamto, who placed second in the 2018 election and is considered Biya’s main challenger, had appealed after the electoral commission excluded him from the list of approved candidates. The ruling has sparked fears of renewed unrest, especially following a police crackdown on protests in Yaoundé the day before the decision, where tear gas was fired and dozens of demonstrators were arrested.
The 92-year-old Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, recently confirmed he will run again in the October 12 poll, despite concerns about his health and waning public trust. His presidency has been marked by entrenched corruption, recurring electoral irregularities, and an ongoing separatist conflict in the Anglophone regions that has devastated communities and displaced thousands. Security was tightened in the capital as the court’s verdict was read, underlining rising tensions and public dissatisfaction in a nation where democratic aspirations are increasingly at odds with authoritarian resilience.