Decades of stability under scrutiny

Since Paul Biya took office on November 6, 1982, Cameroon has navigated four decades marked by institutional stability under the ‘Renouveau’ banner. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement celebrates this longevity as a national achievement. Yet, beneath the surface, tensions are rising. Persistent security threats, mounting debt, and a youth eager for change are testing the limits of the current system.

At 93, President Biya is the world’s oldest non-royal leader, a fact that fuels intense speculation about his succession. Internal party power struggles and regional rivalries further complicate the political landscape as the country braces for upcoming legislative and municipal elections.

An economy stretched thin

The government’s longstanding promise of ‘rigor and moralization’ now clashes with harsh economic realities. Major infrastructure projects such as the deep-water port in Kribi and energy initiatives have transformed certain sectors. However, growth remains sluggish, failing to generate enough jobs for the booming young population.

Cameroon’s public debt has ballooned to over 15 trillion CFA francs. Transparency International ranks the country at 26/100 on its Corruption Perceptions Index, signaling systemic graft that drains public resources and undermines private investment. Meanwhile, the population’s median age is 18, starkly contrasting with an aging leadership class mired in old-guard politics.

Young people paying the price

Unemployment and underemployment are rampant, driving many educated young Cameroonians to seek opportunities abroad. Skyrocketing living costs erode household purchasing power, while regional inequalities and entrenched clientelism deepen social fractures. These pressures threaten national cohesion at a time when the country needs unity most.

A healthcare system struggling to heal

The national health sector reflects broader inequalities. Access to quality care remains a privilege reserved for urban elites, who often fly to Europe for treatment. The public health system suffers from outdated facilities and a glaring urban-rural divide—Yaoundé and Douala host most advanced hospitals, leaving rural regions underserved. The slow rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) further exposes the fragility of the system.

Security crises eroding progress

Cameroon’s hard-won stability has been severely tested over the past decade. The Anglophone crisis, rooted in the North-West and South-West regions, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands. Separatist ambitions continue to fuel violence despite military efforts to restore order.

A second front in the Far North pits Cameroonian forces against Boko Haram, a militant group responsible for deadly incursions and widespread displacement. Meanwhile, porous borders with the Central African Republic allow armed groups to infiltrate, exacerbating regional insecurity and complicating refugee management.