Cameroon’s electoral commission, ELECAM, has received a record 81 candidate applications for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 2025, marking the highest number in the country’s political history. The deadline for submissions closed at midnight on Monday, triggering a countdown to what observers say could be one of Cameroon’s most contested—yet uncertain—elections. Among the applicants are several familiar faces returning to the political arena. Former ally of President Paul Biya and leader of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Bello Bouba Maïgari, is making his second presidential bid after formally breaking away from the ruling coalition earlier this year.
Also returning are opposition figures Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), and Cabral Libii, who has switched to a newly formed party, the Party for National Reconciliation (PNR), following internal rifts within his former platform. Despite the high number of applications, only seven women have stepped forward as candidates. They include Eliane Véronique Eboutou and independents Mbengono Zouame Epse Ndzie Ngono Guyleine and Geneviève Zeh Amvene—highlighting the continued gender gap in Cameroon’s political participation.
At the center of attention remains President Paul Biya, Africa’s oldest serving head of state at 92, who has officially declared his intention to seek re-election. Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and is known for his tight grip on power. His recent military reshuffle, including top-level changes in the defense and security sectors, is widely interpreted as a strategic move to consolidate support from the armed forces ahead of the vote. Though opposition voices and civil society groups view the unprecedented number of candidates as a sign of growing public demand for political change, many analysts remain skeptical about the election’s integrity. They argue that the fragmented opposition and weak institutional checks mean Biya’s dominance is unlikely to be seriously challenged through the ballot box. ELECAM is now tasked with vetting all 81 submissions. The final list of approved candidates must be published no later than 60 days before election day.
