Cameroon will hold delayed legislative and local elections on 7 February 2027, President Paul Biya has announced, setting a date for polls that have already been postponed twice.
The decree confirming the timetable was read out on public radio. Mr Biya, 93, has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and is the world’s oldest head of state.
The announcement comes as the government faces continued tension following last year’s presidential election, which returned Mr Biya for another term and triggered widespread protests.
Authorities responded with a violent crackdown. Lawyers cited by Human Rights Watch said security forces detained as many as 2,000 people, with some still in custody.
The postponements had led to extensions of the terms of lawmakers and municipal councillors. Parliamentarians’ terms are due to end on 20 December, while councillors’ terms have been extended until 28 February 2027.
The election timetable was issued amid further pressure on opposition groups. Last month, the authorities suspended the Cameroon National Salvation Front, the party of defeated presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
Mr Bakary went into exile in The Gambia after claiming he had won the presidential election and urging supporters to defend his “victory”.
Questions over Mr Biya’s health have also persisted, with his frequent stays abroad prompting debate about his ability to govern. Discussion in the media about his health has been prohibited since 2024, when rumours circulated that he had died.
He returned to Yaounde in late August after spending more than two months in Geneva, a move that drew sharp criticism from the opposition.
Cameroon is also awaiting a government reshuffle announced almost a year ago and the appointment of a vice-president. The post was restored through constitutional reform in April, with its holder expected to succeed Mr Biya if he dies.
