As Cameroonians gear up for the presidential election in October 2025, records prove that there is a high probability of electoral manipulation.
Like many other African countries, a 2023 publication of the International Crisis Group’s report highlights trends in electoral manipulation in Cameroon over the past years.
The report reveals that there have been several widespread allegations of voter intimidation and fraud since President Paul Biya took office in 1982. According to the report, 2004, 2011, and 2018 are years in which important irregularities were noted in the electoral process in Cameroon by International observers.
For the past 40 years, President Paul Biya has changed several articles in the constitution in favour of his regime. One of the prominent of was the change of article 6 of the constitution, which extended the term of the president from 5 to 7 years in 2008.
Despite all these irregularities, Biya’s government has also been stiff on opposition parties like the Social Democratic Front, SDF, and the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM, in the past years. A significant example is the arrest and detention of Professor Maurice Kamto, leader of the CRM political party, after he contested Biya’s victory in 2018.
Though Biya, 92, is yet to declare his candidacy to run for the upcoming election, many Cameroonians still feel that their votes are not guaranteed because the current regime has persisted in hammering on the opposition.
The increase in voting age from 18 to 20 years, postponement of municipal elections to 2026, recent prohibition of Professor Maurice Kamto’s rally in Douala, and others are clear signals that a lot needs to be done ahead of the election in October.
