Paul Biya Sets Cameroon Elections for February 7

President Paul Biya issued a public radio decree on Monday scheduling legislative and local elections for February 7, 2027. The announcement follows two previous postponements of the ballots, necessitating the extension of terms for lawmakers until December 20 and municipal councillors until February 28, 2027.

These elections are the first since Biya's reelection last year, a result rejected by the opposition that triggered demonstrations suppressed by authorities. The political environment remains tense following the recent government suspension of the Cameroon National Salvation Front. The party's leader and opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has since fled into exile in the Gambia.

Cameroon is currently awaiting a government reshuffle and the appointment of a vice president, a position reintroduced by constitutional reform in April to ensure succession. Biya, 93, is the world's oldest head of state and has ruled since 1982. His frequent trips abroad, including a stay of more than two months in Geneva, have sparked ongoing debate regarding his health and capacity to lead.