Following the disqualification of popular , a large proportion of Cameroon’s youth no longer believe in the legitimacy of the upcoming presidential elections.
The world’s oldest leader,, has been in power for 43 years. Although he hardly appears in public, political observers view him as the future winner of the October 12 presidential election. If he is declared the winner, it would be Biya’s eighth term, meaning he could stay in office for another seven years.
But with over half the population under 30, the youth in could become a game changer. But will they show up at the polls, or sit out in frustration over unemployment and corruption?
“I am interested in the political affairs of my country, because our future depends on it. But there are still some things we are waiting for before we take a position”, a young street vendor in Douala, told DW. Others seemed dejected and overwhelmed by the country’s political events.
Weakened opposition
With Maurice Kamto’s name not appearing on the ballot papers and the inability of the eleven other candidates to form a united opposition front against Paul Biya, there is a sense that the election is a foregone conclusion.
Kamto, Biya’s strongest challenger, was ruled out because a rival faction of the Manidem party, which endorsed him, presented Dieudonne Yebga as a candidate.
Of the 83 presidential candidates who submitted their applications to the electoral body, only 12 were approved.
The trend toward boycotting the elections is now widespread. According to Florent Siewe, a young community leader, some disappointed young people are openly showing their frustration.
“It must be admitted that the enthusiasm of the Cameroonian public for the presidential elections on October 12 is no longer what it used to be. Some have even torn up their voter registration cards completely”, he told DW.
“We are waiting for Maurice Kamto’s order to see if we are interested again or not. Because if he doesn’t say anything, I guarantee you that many Cameroonians will not go to the polls”, he said, urging the international community to support Cameroon in organizing a presidential election with Maurice Kamto on the ballot.
Politician Banda Kani also argues that the apathy of Cameroonians is exacerbated by the opposition’s failure to unite to challenge Paul Biya.
Calls for more civic education
The leader of the New People’s Movement (MNP) also attributes the demotivation of young Cameroonians to a lack of civic education.
“These young people, driven by difficult living conditions, are doing what all young people around the world do. They are rebelling. But revolts without deep roots are spontaneous and incapable of overthrowing a system as structured as the Cameroonian state”, Kani told DW.
“The lack of political culture, which is the norm in our country, means that we have a youth that is capable of rising up, that can revolt, but that is incapable of carrying out the mission of its mission of their generation”, he added.
Others, like Cyrille Ambani, 28, are not interested in the elections. “To be honest, I don’t know the date of the election or the events surrounding the vote,” the motorcycle taxi driver said.
Behind this attitude lies a general frustration in society. “We just see that the candidates are and their everyday problems,” Ambani told DW.
According to Robert Ntamack, a welder in the capital Yaounde, the gap between election promises and reality is leading to a growing divide between young people and political actors. Added to this is the widespread perception of , in which their voice carries no weight.
“As always, they are doing everything they can to control the political apparatus,” Ntamack told DW, stressing that it has been going on for a long time.
“That’s why young people in Cameroon today are not interested in politics. They are not interested because they are neither involved, nor consulted, nor respected.”
Increase in the registration of young voters
However, other voices emphasize different dynamics. Chanceline Boutchouang Nghomssi, president of Junior Chamber International in Cameroon, believes that some young people are becoming more involved in the electoral process.
“Since 2016, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of young people registering at Elecam [Elections Cameroon] offices. Since 2018, there have been more young applicants,” she said, adding that the country was seeing influencers on social media raising awareness and creating social consciousness with their content.
“We are witnessing a global movement of young people who understand that they must do their part to make their voices heard.”
There are now over 8 million voters registered on the electoral roll, including just over 2.7 million young people aged between 20 to 35. The gained its independence in 1960.
The presidential elections in October 2025 are therefore shaping up to be a decisive moment for Cameroon. While some young people are noticeably disappointed, others remain convinced that they carry the hope for real change within them and that their participation could make a decisive difference.
Accusations ahead of the polls
Some political actors and civil society organizations accuse the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), of blocking the electoral process. The CPDM has categorically rejected the allegations.
Duval Lebel Ebale, member of the CPDM municipal commission of Yaounde 4, emphasizes that Cameroonians live in a democratic country where different parties have been around for a long time, all having their own agendas.
“If we win a landslide victory on the evening of October 12, no one should say that the pseudo-candidates we created ourselves helped us. No. We have our voter base. We are represented in 360 municipalities,” Ebale told DW. “This territorial network is sufficient for our victory without even being tainted by certain false alliances with certain competing candidates.”
For Ebale, . “You know that the old man in Africa is synonymous with wisdom, and we think that President Biya has saved us from many situations because at some point, he had the wisdom to know that we had to make the right decision.”
Elisabeth Arsen contributed to this article
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