UN Pressures Cameroon’s Biya on Leadership Transition Ahead of 2025 Election

As the 2025 presidential election in Cameroon approaches, the level of international attention surrounding the poll is growing unprecedented. With far-reaching implications for the nation's future and regional stability, the global community is keeping a close eye on the political developments within the country.

Among the key organizations monitoring the lead-up to the election is the United Nations, which is reportedly applying significant pressure on President Paul Biya, Cameroon’s longest-serving head of state, to address critical issues surrounding his potential re-election.

The UN’s Firm Stance

The UN, which has long observed Biya’s leadership, particularly his role in the peaceful resolution of the Bakassi Peninsula conflict, is said to be insistent on certain conditions should Biya decide to seek re-election in 2025. Among the UN's primary concerns is the introduction of a Vice President position to ensure a peaceful transition of power. This proposal is seen as a necessary step to guarantee stability and address fears about Cameroon’s leadership vacuum upon Biya's eventual departure.

However, reports suggest that Biya's Francophone supporters are reportedly blocking this move, fearing that the Vice President role could be filled by an Anglophone candidate—something that could upset the delicate balance of power between Cameroon’s French-speaking and English-speaking regions. This ongoing political maneuvering highlights the complexity of Cameroon's internal dynamics as the 2025 elections draw nearer.

Biya’s 42 Years in Power

As of this week, President Paul Biya marked 42 years at the helm of Cameroon, celebrating a record that has made him the longest-serving leader in the country’s history. At 91 years old, Biya continues to wield significant influence over the nation, although questions are increasingly being raised about his political future. His long reign, which began on November 6, 1982, after the resignation of his predecessor Ahmadou Ahidjo, has earned him the title of the world’s oldest sitting elected leader.

Biya’s leadership style has often been described as elusive, with his actions often shrouded in secrecy. Unlike other long-serving leaders like Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Biya’s approach is subtle—marked by a quiet presence rather than the public spectacle of his administration. This “stealth mode” has allowed him to maintain a firm grip on power, even as speculation about his successor and the future of his presidency continues to swirl.

In an editorial published by Cameroon Tribune on November 4, Biya’s leadership is characterized as one marked by “absence, distance, and silence”—a mantra that has kept his image away from public view for long stretches, adding to the intrigue about his political intentions. However, during the anniversary period, the government has made a point of publicizing Biya’s return, signaling his ongoing influence and presence in the country’s political landscape.

Calls for an Eighth Term

Amid the growing uncertainty surrounding his future, Biya’s supporters continue to call for his candidacy in the 2025 election. A motion signed by dozens of activists and loyalists urges “all Cameroonians, regardless of their political views, to join in the call for the candidacy of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.” While the issue of a potential successor has been delicately avoided, Biya’s political allies insist that his leadership has been key to maintaining stability and progress in Cameroon.

As Biya approaches his 92nd birthday in 2025, the ruling party, the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC), maintains that the Cameroonian people respect their elders and must continue to support Biya’s leadership. If re-elected, Biya would likely complete his next term in his 100th year, raising the question of how much longer he will be able to maintain his grip on power.

The international community, particularly the UN, is watching closely as Cameroon prepares for the 2025 election. With the question of succession still unresolved and concerns about leadership transitions mounting, it remains to be seen whether Biya will continue to defy the odds and lead Cameroon into the next chapter of its history—or if the country will finally see the dawn of a new political era.