Cameroon President Biya delays elections as soon as once more

Editor-in-chiefFebruary 10, 20263 Mins read20

Cameroon President Biya delays elections as soon as once more

Cameroon President Biya Delays Elections Once Again: Context, Implications, and What Lies Ahead

Introduction

In a move that has captured international attention and deepened domestic uncertainty, Cameroon’s long-serving President Paul Biya announced on February 10, 2026, a further postponement of the country’s legislative and municipal elections. These polls, originally slated for early 2025 and then rescheduled to the beginning of 2026, will now be delayed indefinitely with no new date set. The announcement, made during a rare televised address coinciding with the eve of Youth Day, underscores the persistent governance challenges in Cameroon and raises critical questions about the rule of law, democratic processes, and the future political landscape in Central Africa. At 93, Biya remains the world’s oldest head of state, having held power since 1982. His decision to delay elections—framed as a “slight readjustment” due to “certain compelling constraints”—follows a pattern of electoral postponements that have characterized much of his tenure. This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-optimized, and pedagogical breakdown of the situation, examining the historical background, legal and political analysis, practical implications for various stakeholders, and frequently asked questions. Our goal is to offer a clear, accurate, and verifiable resource that moves beyond breaking news to deliver sustained insight into Cameroon’s evolving political crisis.

Key Points

Announcement: President Paul Biya declared a postponement of legislative and municipal elections on February 10, 2026, citing “compelling constraints” but offering no new timeline.
Electoral Timeline: The elections were initially scheduled for 2025, then moved to early 2026. This latest delay pushes them further into uncertainty.
Constitutional Assurance: Biya stated that “the relevant provisions of the laws, and particularly the Constitution, would be respected,” though specifics were not provided.
Government Formation: He promised to form a new government after dissolving the existing one in his New Year’s Eve address (December 31, 2025).
Youth Focus: In his speech, Biya addressed high youth unemployment but warned against “delinquency, alcohol abuse, drug use, and excessive use of social media.”
Political Context: Biya, re-elected to an eighth term in October 2025 after a controversial vote, has been in power for over 43 years. His February address was a rare direct communication to the nation.
Historical Precedent: Election delays are not new in Cameroon under Biya’s rule, often justified by security or logistical concerns, but they consistently fuel opposition protests and international concern.

Background

To understand the significance of the current election delay, one must examine the deep-rooted political, historical, and social context of Cameroon under President Paul Biya’s extended leadership.

Paul Biya’s Four-Decade Rule and Its Evolution

Paul Biya assumed the presidency on November 6, 1982, following the resignation of Ahmadou Ahidjo. Initially seen as a reformer, his tenure has progressively consolidated executive power. He has won eight presidential terms (1988, 1992, 1997, 2004, 2011, 2018, and 2025), often amid opposition boycotts, allegations of fraud, and state-managed victories. The 2025 presidential election, held on October 7, was particularly contentious. Main opposition parties, including the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), either boycotted or claimed the process was marred by irregularities. Protests erupted in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions—areas embroiled in a separatist conflict since 2016—and were met with a severe security crackdown. Biya’s victory, declared by the Constitutional Council with over 70% of the vote, was rejected by many Cameroonians as illegitimate. This backdrop of disputed legitimacy sets the stage for the current legislative and municipal election delays, as the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) seeks to control regional and local governance structures.

Cameroon’s Electoral Timeline and the 2025-2026 Cycle

Cameroon’s electoral calendar is governed by the Electoral Code (Law No. 2012/001 of April 16, 2012) and the Constitution of 1996 (amended in 2008). Legislative elections for the National Assembly (180 seats) and municipal elections for city councils are constitutionally mandated to be held every five years. The last legislative and municipal votes took place in February 2020. According to the standard timeline, the next should have occurred in early 2025. However, in late 2024, the government cited logistical and security challenges—particularly the ongoing conflict in the Anglophone regions—to push the date to early 2026. Now, just weeks before the rescheduled date, Biya has announced another delay. This pattern of postponement is not unprecedented; legislative elections were also delayed from 2017 to 2020 due to the Anglophone crisis. The absence of a new date creates a legal vacuum, as the Constitution does not explicitly empower the president to unilaterally postpone national elections without parliamentary approval or a state of emergency declaration. This ambiguity is a central point of legal controversy.