By 
Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, has scheduled legislative and municipal elections for February 7, 2027, ending uncertainty over the long-delayed polls amid heightened political tensions following his re-election last year.
Biya announced the date in a decree read on public radio on Monday, November 9, after the elections were postponed twice, resulting in extensions of the mandates of lawmakers and municipal councillors.
The 93-year-old leader, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is the world’s oldest serving head of state.
His re-election in October 2025 triggered widespread protests, which security forces reportedly met with a crackdown.
According to Human Rights Watch, lawyers representing detainees as reported by Aljazeera said security forces had arrested up to 2,000 people following the disputed election, with some still in custody.
The latest election announcement comes as opposition parties continue to face restrictions from the authorities.
Last month, the government suspended the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC), the party of defeated opposition presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
Bakary fled to The Gambia after declaring himself the winner of the presidential election and urging his supporters to defend what he described as his victory.
The repeated postponements of the legislative and municipal elections led to extensions of the mandates of sitting officials. The terms of parliamentarians were extended to December 20, 2026, while those of municipal councillors run until February 28, 2027.
Cameroon is also awaiting a government reshuffle announced nearly a year ago and the appointment of a vice-president following constitutional reforms that reintroduced the position in April.
The vice-president is expected to succeed the president in the event of his death.
Meanwhile, Biya’s frequent stays abroad have continued to fuel public debate about his health and ability to govern.
Media discussions about the president’s health have been prohibited since 2024, following rumours about his death.
In August, Biya returned to the capital, Yaounde, after spending more than two months in Geneva, drawing criticism from opposition figures.
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