Supporters of Cameroonian President Paul Biya are gearing up to celebrate his 42 years in power this Wednesday, with an array of public events, tributes, state-sponsored media programs, and appeals for an eighth term.
The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) has called on its members to rally behind the 91-year-old leader, who recently returned to Cameroon after a six-week absence, dispelling widespread health rumors. “Let us unite in support of President Paul Biya to ensure Cameroon’s stability and progress”, urged Jean Nkuete, RDPC’s Central Committee Secretary General, in a statement released in late October.
The statement commended the “impressive achievements” of Biya’s tenure and called for efforts to “counter negative speculation” against the leader, who assumed office in 1982 following Amadou Ahidjo’s resignation. “The Cameroonian people are a people of respect for age and wisdom,” the circular emphasized, encouraging continued allegiance to Biya’s leadership.
Party sections across the country quickly heeded the call. In the West, numerous activists signed a petition inviting “all Cameroonians, regardless of political affiliation, to join us in supporting President Paul Biya’s candidacy.” In Ebolowa, a southern city, the screening of a documentary titled *Paul Biya: A Great Statesman with a Remarkable Destiny* prompted similar endorsements, with the Minister of Education and RDPC communications secretary formally requesting Biya to stand as the Southern region’s candidate in the October 2025 presidential election.