Cameroonians went to the polls on Sunday for a presidential election in which long-serving leader Paul Biya, aged 92 and the world’s oldest sitting president, is widely expected to retain power after more than four decades in office. Despite growing calls for change from an energized opposition, Biya’s firm grip on state institutions makes him the frontrunner.

Among his challengers is Issa Tchiroma, 76, a former government spokesperson who has drawn significant crowds while urging an end to Biya’s 43-year rule. His campaign has received backing from a coalition of smaller opposition parties and civic organizations.

Political analysts, however, predict that Biya—who has ruled since 1982—is likely to secure re-election, citing the opposition’s fragmentation and the incumbent’s extensive control over the political system.

In Yaoundé, the capital, voters turned out slowly amid heavy security. At a polling station in the affluent Bastos district near the presidential palace, where Biya was expected to cast his vote, resident Patrick Mbarga Mboa, 45, said, “I just hope things go smoothly, especially for my candidate. May peace and stability prevail after the vote.”

Long-Standing Economic Struggles

Biya’s critics argue that his leadership has led to decades of economic stagnation and social tension in the Central African nation of 30 million people, a major producer of oil and cocoa. In Yaoundé’s Briqueterie neighborhood, driver Hassane Djbril voiced his frustration: “For 43 years, we’ve been suffering. There are no jobs. We need change because this government has become dictatorial.”

The administration has consistently rejected such accusations, insisting that Cameroon remains a democratic nation with free and fair elections.

Voting took place from 07:00 to 17:00 GMT, with official results expected within two weeks. Biya eliminated presidential term limits in 2008 and has often relied on a single-round voting system, where the candidate with the most votes wins.

“A surprise outcome cannot be ruled out, but Biya’s dominance over the state apparatus and a divided opposition make an eighth term the most likely result,” said François Conradie, lead political economist at Oxford Economics. “He has stayed in power for over 40 years by strategically dividing his opponents, and though he may no longer be fully in touch, his political machinery continues to operate effectively,” Conradie added.

Campaign of ‘Greatness and Hope’

Running under the slogan “Greatness and Hope,” Biya has held only one major rally in the northern city of Maroua, relying instead on state-controlled media and social platforms to promote his message of continued development and stability.

However, discontent remains widespread. “Things have only worsened—nothing has changed,” said Herves Mitterand, a mechanic in the commercial hub of Douala. “We want real change this time, not just promises.”

More than 8 million Cameroonians are registered to vote in this election.