Paul Biya, Cameroon’s long-serving leader and the world’s oldest sitting president, has officially begun his eighth term in office after taking the oath on Thursday in Yaoundé.
The 92-year-old, who has ruled since 1982, won the October 12 election with 53.7% of the vote, according to official results.
His main opponent, former minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, trailed with 35.2% and continues to dispute the outcome, alleging widespread fraud.
During the swearing-in ceremony, attended by domestic officials but no foreign heads of state, Biya pledged to “spare no effort” in fulfilling the trust placed in him.
“I understand the scale of our challenges and the frustration of our people,” he said.
Tchiroma, once a close ally of Biya, has declared himself the legitimate winner, saying, “There are two presidents, the one elected by the people and the one declared by the Constitutional Council.”
He has encouraged supporters to demonstrate peacefully, but protests have been met with a strong government crackdown that has left several people dead.
Following the election announcement on October 27, security forces dispersed rallies in major cities.
The opposition has since called for “dead city” actions, urging citizens to close shops and stay home, which have seen partial success across regions such as Garoua and Douala, though the capital, Yaoundé, remains largely functional.
Authorities have accused Tchiroma of inciting unrest and are considering legal action.
Meanwhile, international organizations including the EU, AU and UN have condemned the use of violence against protesters and urged investigations into the reported deaths.
Biya remains one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers, maintaining control over Cameroon through decades of political tension, economic hardship, and separatist conflict.
He is only the second leader in the country’s history since its independence from France in 1960.
