Cameroon Sets February Election Date After Two Delays Under President Biya

OPA WIRE, Nov 10 (OPA) — President Paul Biya announced the election date in a decree broadcast on public radio on Monday. The legislative and local polls have already been postponed twice, leading to extended terms for lawmakers through December 20 and municipal councillors through February 28, 2027.

The announcement arrives during a period of acute political friction in Central Africa's largest economy. Security forces launched a heavy crackdown following Biya's re-election in October 2025, detaining up to 2,000 people according to lawyers cited by Human Rights Watch. Several individuals remain in custody.

Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and stands as the world's oldest head of state. Questions regarding his health and fitness to govern have intensified due to prolonged absences abroad, including a two-month stay in Geneva that ended in late August. Authorities enacted a ban on media debates regarding the president's health in 2024 following rumors of his death.

The political landscape remains fractured ahead of the February polls. Authorities recently suspended the Cameroon National Salvation Front, the party led by defeated presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who fled into exile in the Gambia after declaring victory and urging supporters to contest the official results.