On Tuesday, opposition figure Akere Tabeng Muna, a respected lawyer and former president of the Cameroon Bar Association, filed a petition with the Constitutional Council. He argues that Biya is disqualified under Article 118 of the electoral code, citing the president’s advanced age, frequent absences for medical treatment abroad, and what he describes as Biya’s reliance on third parties to perform official duties. “This is not a political attack—it is a matter of upholding the rule of law,” Muna said in a statement. The Constitutional Council is expected to rule on the petition this Friday at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé.
The challenge comes amid growing concerns about the integrity of the upcoming vote. Just last week, the Council barred Biya’s main rival, Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, from appearing on the ballot—a move condemned by Human Rights Watch and widely criticized as politically motivated. Pro-Kamto demonstrators who took to the streets of Yaoundé were met with tear gas and heavy police presence.
Biya, already confirmed as the ruling party’s candidate through an online announcement, is the world’s oldest sitting president and one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. His 43-year grip on power has drawn mounting criticism at home and abroad, with opposition groups accusing his government of suppressing dissent and manipulating the electoral system.
As Friday’s ruling approaches, Cameroonians are bracing for heightened political tensions. Many see the case as a test of whether legal institutions can act independently—or whether Biya’s dominance of the state will once again overshadow hopes for a credible democratic process.
