Paul Biya’s Enduring Rule in Cameroon
Paul Biya has been at the helm of Cameroon’s political landscape for an astonishing 43 years, establishing one of Africa’s longest-running presidencies. His remarkable longevity in power speaks to a complex blend of political savvy, institutional control, and a system carefully designed to maintain his authority. Throughout his four-decade rule, Biya has weathered numerous challenges—from economic crises and opposition movements to regional conflicts—yet has consistently managed to retain his grip on the nation’s highest office.
The 91-year-old leader’s endurance defies simple explanation. Critics point to electoral manipulation, constitutional amendments tailored to extend his rule, and strategic suppression of opposition voices. Supporters, meanwhile, credit his stability-first approach in a region often plagued by upheaval. What’s undeniable is Biya’s masterful navigation of Cameroon’s complex ethnic, linguistic, and regional divisions, playing various factions against each other while positioning himself as the essential mediator. This approach has solidified a political system where meaningful transition seems perpetually delayed, with potential successors either sidelined or incorporated into his patronage networks.
Perhaps most telling about Biya’s longevity is his physical absence from day-to-day governance. Often nicknamed “the absentee president,” he spends significant time abroad, particularly in Switzerland, creating a paradoxical leadership style where inaccessibility has become a form of power. This distance has cultivated a mystique around his rule—decisions emerge from an opaque process, while the president himself remains above the daily political fray. Meanwhile, Cameroon faces pressing challenges: the Anglophone crisis in the country’s western regions has developed into a full-blown separatist conflict, economic inequality persists, and youth unemployment remains stubbornly high.
The international community has maintained a largely pragmatic relationship with Biya’s regime. Western nations occasionally voice concerns about democratic backsliding or human rights issues but have prioritized Cameroon’s regional stability and cooperation on security matters, particularly in combating Boko Haram in the country’s north. This external acceptance has further reinforced Biya’s position, allowing him to present himself domestically as an internationally respected statesman. The president’s control extends throughout government institutions, from the security forces to the judiciary, creating a system where meaningful checks on executive power have gradually eroded.
For ordinary Cameroonians, Biya’s enduring rule represents different realities. To older generations, he embodies continuity in a region where political transitions have often brought chaos. To younger Cameroonians—the majority of the population who have known no other president—his administration represents a status quo increasingly disconnected from their aspirations and needs. The question of succession looms large over the country, with no clear transition plan in place despite the president’s advanced age. This uncertainty creates both political paralysis and behind-the-scenes positioning among elites eager to preserve their privileges in any post-Biya scenario.
As Cameroon moves forward, the legacy of Biya’s extraordinary tenure will ultimately be judged against the country’s development outcomes and institutional health. His supporters highlight the relative peace maintained through most of his rule (until recent conflicts), while critics emphasize decades of missed opportunities for more inclusive economic growth and democratic consolidation. What remains clear is that Paul Biya’s personal political journey has become inseparable from Cameroon’s modern history. The structures of power he has meticulously constructed over four decades ensure that, for the foreseeable future, the president who has dominated Cameroon’s political life for nearly half a century is indeed not going anywhere—a reality with profound implications for the country’s 27 million citizens awaiting political renewal.
