Cameroon: Where does Biya’s reelection leave Tchiroma?

Cameroon: Where Does Biya’s Reelection Leave Tchiroma?

President Paul Biya’s reelection in October 2025 has once again extended his already four-decade-long grip on power in Cameroon, leaving the political landscape in a familiar state of stasis.

At 92 years old, Biya secured another seven-year term with 53.66% of the vote, defeating his main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who garnered 35.19%.

The election was marred by low voter turnout, especially in the conflict-ridden Anglophone regions, and was accompanied by widespread allegations of irregularities and intimidation.

For many Cameroonians, the result was less a surprise than a confirmation of the entrenched political order.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a 75-year-old veteran of Cameroonian politics and leader of the Front pour le Salut National du Cameroun (FSNC), emerged as the most vocal opponent of the election outcome.

 Declaring himself the rightful winner even before the official results were announced, Tchiroma has refused to recognize Biya’s mandate. His defiance has injected a rare jolt of energy into an opposition long demoralized by repeated electoral defeats and systemic marginalization.

Tchiroma’s political journey is complex. Once a loyalist who served as Biya’s communications minister from 2009 to 2018, he later distanced himself from the regime and rebranded as a reformist.

This dual identity has made him both a credible opposition figure and a target of skepticism. His rejection of a reported offer from the Biya administration to become prime minister in exchange for legitimizing the election results underscores his current stance.

According to sources cited by Jeune Afrique, this offer was part of a classic Biya strategy: co-opt dissenters to neutralize opposition. Tchiroma’s refusal has likely closed the door to any formal role within the government, isolating him politically but reinforcing his image as a principled dissenter.

Legally, Tchiroma’s options are exhausted. Cameroon’s constitution allows only 72 hours to contest election results before the Constitutional Council, a body widely seen as an extension of the executive.

As in 2018, when opposition leader Maurice Kamto’s challenge was swiftly dismissed and followed by his arrest, the council rejected all appeals in 2025, effectively sealing Biya’s victory.

Analysts argue that Cameroon’s institutions are designed to validate power rather than challenge it, rendering legal recourse a mere formality.

With institutional avenues blocked, Tchiroma has turned to the streets. He has called for peaceful demonstrations and urged citizens to defend what he calls the “truth of the ballot.”

Protests have erupted in cities like Douala and Garoua, though they remain limited in scale. The government’s response has included internet disruptions and a heavy security presence, tactics that have historically stifled dissent. Tchiroma has also made a bold appeal to the military, urging officers to “take a stand,” a move that hints at deeper fractures within the regime’s support base. 

While Biya retains strong backing among senior military officials, analysts suggest that loyalty among mid- and lower-ranking officers is less assured.

Despite the unrest, Biya’s regime appears stable for now. The capital, Yaoundé, remains calm, and the protests have not yet reached a scale that could threaten the government’s hold on power. However, the underlying discontent is palpable.

Many Cameroonians feel trapped in a political system that offers neither renewal nor genuine representation. As one observer put it, the country’s greatest risk is not revolution but “slow decay”, a stagnation that erodes legitimacy without triggering change.

Tchiroma’s defiance, while unlikely to alter the immediate political equation, has exposed the deep fatigue with a system that seems impervious to transformation. His refusal to concede has made him a solitary figure, cut off from power but resonant with a public yearning for authenticity and change.

Whether this moment marks the beginning of a broader movement or the last gasp of resistance remains uncertain.

What is clear is that in the shadow of Biya’s enduring rule, Tchiroma has chosen to stand apart, even if it means standing alone.