In the 2025 presidential elections, incumbent President Paul Biya emerged victorious, obtaining 53.66% of the votes and an eighth term in office. The opposition contested the outcome, alleging the results were rigged. The election period was contentious, and clashes broke out between security forces and opposition supporters. Among the 12 presidential candidates, there was one woman.
On 12 October 2025, Cameroon held its presidential election, a tumultuous vote that generated considerable debate both in the country and internationally. The election featured twelve candidates validated by the Cameroonian Constitutional Council, including the incumbent President, Paul Biya, aged 92 and in power since 1984. The candidate of the Cameroonian People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) party, Paul Biya, was declared the winner with 53.66% of the votes, securing an eighth consecutive term. This result prevailed despite questions raised regarding his age of 92 and widespread challenges to the conduct of the electoral process. His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, president of the National Salvation Front of Cameroon, finished second with 35.19% of the vote.
The opposition, led by Issa Tchiroma Bakary, denounced these results as rigged and stolen. Bakary, who was officially placed second by the Constitutional Council, declared himself the winner based on his own compilation of votes from key polling stations. “We will not accept a stolen vote”, he told the BBC.
The election took place amidst significant tension, marked by popular unrest, fierce disputes, and widespread rejection of the regime that has held power since 1984. From the very first day of voting, the opposition camp denounced electoral irregularities, instances of fraud, and what it described as a plot orchestrated by the ruling party to retain the incumbent president. Officials of the RDPC were accused of attempting to manipulate the outcome in several polling stations. This situation led to outbreaks of clashes and arrests across the country. Notably, following the Constitutional Council's proclamation of results on 27 October, confrontations occurred in Garoua between defence and security forces and supporters of the opposition leader and in several cities across the country.
Women's Political Participation
The presidential election of 12 October 2025 illustrated the persistent difficulties women face in accessing the highest office in Cameroon. In the recently concluded presidential polls, seven women submitted their applications compared to 74 men:
Of the seven female candidates who submitted their applications, only Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya, President of the UDC and Mayor of Foumban, had her candidacy validated, thus becoming the fourth woman in the country's history to run in such an election, following Annette Ekobo (1992), Esther Dang, and Kah Walla (2011). With 1.66% of the vote, Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya’s electoral performance remained modest, and her appeal concerning irregularities was rejected by the Constitutional Council.
Parliamentary elections were also expected to be held in 2025. However, on 9 July 2025, “the National Assembly extended the mandate of its members from 10 March 2025 to 30 March 2026.” As of 1 October 2025, women comprised 33.9% (61 of 180) of the members in the National Assembly and 33% (33 of 100) in the Senate.
Conclusion
In the 2025 presidential elections, incumbent President Paul Biya was re-elected for an eighth term. Of the 12 presidential candidates, there was one woman, Ms Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya. During the electoral process, there were reports of tension and confrontations between defence and security forces and supporters of the opposition, as well as challenges to the conduct of the electoral process. The opposition denounced the results of the presidential polls. The elections to the lower house were not held in 2025 as the National Assembly extended the mandate of its members until 2026.
Cameroon has taken steps to advance women’s rights and gender equality; however, the country has yet to adopt a gender quota. The Electoral Code, adopted on 19 April 2012 and amended on 15 April 2019, stipulates that the composition of each list must take into account the different sociological elements, as well as gender. It does not, however, mandate political parties to do so. Currently, women make up about a third of the respective houses in parliament in Cameroon.
No woman has been elected president to date. The applications of six of the seven women seeking to stand for the presidency were rejected. Cameroonian women interested in pursuing political and public life face structural obstacles such as campaign financing, access to sponsorship, gender-based violence, and cultural stereotypes. Reports also suggest that women, in particular poorer women, are excluded from party candidate lists as they lack the resources to fund their campaigns. Moreover, traditional leaders “do not encourage women to participate in the electoral process.”
Civil society and women’s rights organisations, such as Leap Girl Africa and the Association for the Support of Single Mothers, are pursuing initiatives to enhance women’s political representation in Cameroon and help women overcome barriers. Among their initiatives are the creation of spaces for women, especially young women, in the “political and civic arenas, with a focus on both Maroua in the north and the capital, Yaoundé.” The two organisations are also working on drafting a bill to institutionalise gender quotas for decision-making positions, both elective and appointive.