Campaign season has officially started in Cameroon ahead of the October 12, 2025 presidential election, but longtime leader Paul Biya was notably absent from the country as his rivals began mobilizing supporters.
The 92-year-old president, who has ruled since 1982 and is seeking an eighth term in office, left Cameroon a week ago on what his office described as a “private trip” to Europe. Diplomatic sources say he is currently in Geneva.
Despite Biya’s absence, opposition candidates hit the ground running. Cabral Libii, candidate of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), drew crowds in Douala despite heavy rain. Former tourism minister Bello Bouba Maigari also held a rally, bolstered by the support of ex-candidate Akere Muna, who withdrew from the race in his favor.In total, 12 candidates have been cleared to contest the election, including Biya himself. However, the president’s silence has raised eyebrows. His last direct address to citizens came on July 13, when he announced his candidacy via social media.
Biya, the world’s oldest head of state, faced public embarrassment earlier this month after his daughter Brenda Biya posted a TikTok video urging followers to abandon his leadership before later deleting it and apologizing.
The president also missed the recent UN General Assembly in New York, where he was represented by his foreign minister. Critics point to his long absences abroad, with a 2018 investigation estimating he has spent over 4.5 years outside Cameroon during his presidency, mostly in Switzerland.
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