Yaoundé, November 6, 2025 — President Paul Biya was officially sworn in this Thursday before the Cameroonian Parliament for an eighth term as head of state. The ceremony, held at the National Assembly building in Yaoundé, took place in a solemn atmosphere under heavy security.

A solemn ceremony

In front of members of parliament, senators and several foreign delegations, Paul Biya, aged 92, raised his right hand to pronounce the constitutional oath:

"I swear before God and the Cameroonian nation to faithfully fulfill the high duties entrusted to me."

In his inaugural address , the head of state promised to dedicate this new term to the stability and development of the country:

"I will continue to work towards a united, stable and prosperous Cameroon. Together, we must face the economic and security challenges that lie ahead."

The ceremony took place in the presence of the diplomatic corps, several African heads of state, including Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema and Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso , demonstrating the support of part of the Central African region.

Mixed international reactions

While some African chancelleries have praised Cameroon's political stability, other voices have been more critical.

-The Chairperson of the African Union Commission , Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Paul Biya on his re-election, while calling for national dialogue and the consolidation of democracy.

-Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch , for their part, denounced the repression of post-election demonstrations and urged the Cameroonian authorities to respect fundamental freedoms.

-Several Western media outlets, such as The Guardian and AP News , have pointed out that Paul Biya remains the oldest sitting head of state in the world , a symbol of exceptional but also controversial political longevity.