Paul Biya, Other Africa’s Longest Presidents In Thirty Years

On July 14, 2025, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya marked 42 uninterrupted years in power and stunned the nation once again. Despite being 91 and governing largely from hotel suites in Europe, Biya announced that he will run for president in 2026, seeking yet another term.

The news came via a brief statement from the presidency aired on state TV, where Biya said he was “answering the call of the people” and committed to “continuing the work of national unity and peace.” No press conference. No questions. No surprise.

Biya’s decision was met with exhaustion from the opposition and apathy from many Cameroonians, who have grown used to life under his shadow. But his announcement reignites an uncomfortable conversation not just about Cameroon’s democracy, but about a broader African pattern: presidents who rule for decades, rewriting the rules to stay in power indefinitely.

Five African Presidents Who Refused to Step Down

Biya is not alone. Below are five African heads of state past and present who have outlasted rivals, rewritten constitutions, and stretched their time in office beyond what most democracies can fathom.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Of Equatorial Guinea

Having ruled for over 45 years, Obiang is the world’s longest-serving sitting president. He rose to power after overthrowing his uncle in a bloody coup and has since built one of Africa’s most repressive regimes.

Despite staggering oil wealth, most of the population lives in poverty, while his son Vice President Teodorín has been accused of lavish spending abroad. Critics believe a father-to-son handover is imminent, further tightening the family’s grip on power.

Yoweri Museveni Of Uganda

Initially celebrated as a reformist, Museveni has become the very thing he once opposed. Now nearing 40 years in power, he has removed term and age limits, enabling him to contest every election since 1996.

Museveni’s latest term began in 2021 after a violent election season marked by the arrest and harassment of his main challenger, Bobi Wine. With increasing militarization of politics and a narrowing civic space, Uganda’s path to democratic transition remains uncertain.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, Republic Of Congo

Sassou Nguesso’s time in power is divided into two periods, 1979–1992 and 1997 till today. Like Biya and Museveni, he scrapped term limits via referendum and now governs through an entrenched network of military and political loyalists.

His family, particularly his children, control significant parts of the economy. Despite criticism over corruption and inequality, Sassou Nguesso comfortably won re-election in 2021, extending his rule well into his 80s.

Isaias Afwerki Of Eritrea

The most authoritarian on this list, Afwerki has never held an election since Eritrea’s independence in 1993. His regime bans all opposition, censors the press, and enforces indefinite national service, which rights groups liken to forced labor.

Afwerki rarely speaks to the media and runs a closed off state where dissenters disappear without trace. Despite growing international pressure, there are no signs of transition or reform.

Paul Biya Of Cameroon

Now seeking his eighth term, Biya has become synonymous with Cameroon itself. He took over in 1982 and has used a mix of patronage, military loyalty, and constitutional changes to hold on to power. In 2008, he abolished term limits altogether.

Rarely seen in public, Biya spends much of his time in Geneva, earning him the nickname “the absentee president.” Despite the Anglophone crisis, economic stagnation, and growing youth frustration, Biya insists he is the only leader capable of preserving Cameroon’s unity. His expected 2026 candidacy, if successful, would see him in office until age 98.

Public Reactions And Social Reactions

News of Biya’s decision to run again sparked a range of reactions. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #BiyaMustGo resurfaced, with users expressing disbelief.

One X user Luyolo Mkentane wrote:

“And yet, capable Cameroonians accept this nonsense as if it’s normal for a 92-year-old to cling to power in a nation brimming with young, brilliant minds! It’s time they took to the streets with the same fire and resolve as the Kenyan youth.”

Another X user Kwame tweeted:
“Who votes for him? Bunch of brainless people.”

What Happens Next?

With elections scheduled for 2026, Paul Biya’s candidacy sets up yet another cycle of controlled campaigning, restricted opposition, and a likely landslide “victory.” But beneath the surface, a restless youth population and deepening economic frustrations are growing harder to ignore.

In the broader African context, Biya’s move sends a message: term limits are meaningless without enforcement , and until power becomes less personal, transitions will remain rare and risky.