Camer360

Geneva, September 2, 2025 — The United Nations has urged Cameroon’s government to guarantee free and transparent elections as the country prepares for another presidential vote in which Paul Biya seeks an eighth term.

Speaking at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern over “rising restrictions on the activities of opposition political parties.” He pointed to reports of bans on gatherings, exclusion of opposition figures from the race, and irregularities in voter registration.

President Paul Biya, 92, announced in July that he would run again, ending months of speculation about his future. Biya, who has led the country since 1982, is Africa’s second-longest-serving president after Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang.

His four decades in power have been marked by repeated allegations of corruption and a violent separatist conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, which has displaced thousands and led to deadly clashes with security forces. The country has also suffered attacks linked to the Nigerian-based extremist group Boko Haram.

In 2018, Biya won reelection with more than 70% of the vote in an election criticized for irregularities and low turnout in conflict-hit areas.

Observers warn that a lack of transparency in the 2025 vote could further deepen political divisions and insecurity in Cameroon.