Cameroon in political limbo after contested Biya re-election

Cameroon remains mired in political uncertainty following the disputed re-election of President Paul Biya, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, as the opposition rejects the outcome and further elections are delayed.

The constitutional council proclaimed Biya the winner of the October presidential vote with about 53.7% of ballots, ahead of opposition challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary on roughly 35%. But the result remains bitterly contested, with the opposition publishing its own tallies claiming it actually won a majority.

Tensions have simmered since the vote. Tchiroma Bakary rejected an offer to serve as prime minister, and questions have persisted over the transparency of the count and the space for dissent in the Central African nation.

Adding to the uncertainty, legislative and municipal elections that had been expected around the start of 2026 were postponed again, with authorities citing constraints and no new date set. The repeated delays have fuelled frustration among opposition supporters and civil society.

Biya, in power since 1982, presides over a country facing multiple challenges, including a long-running separatist conflict in its Anglophone regions and pressure from militant groups in the far north. The political deadlock has raised questions about stability and succession in one of Central Africa's pivotal states.