Cameroon schedules long-delayed legislative and local elections for February

Cameroon will hold legislative and local elections on February 7, President Paul Biya announced, ending months of uncertainty over the twice-delayed polls. The elections represent a key electoral moment for the country, which has faced political tensions and security challenges in recent years.

Biya, who at over 90 years old remains the world's longest-serving current leader, has governed Cameroon since 1982. The legislative elections will determine the composition of the National Assembly, while the local polls will elect mayors and councillors across the country's administrative divisions.

The announcement follows two previous postponements of the electoral calendar, which had disrupted planning for both the government and opposition parties. The revised timeline now provides political actors with a defined window to prepare campaigns and mobilize supporters.

Cameroon has confronted significant governance challenges, including separatist violence in its Anglophone regions and broader security concerns. The upcoming elections are expected to reflect public sentiment on the government's handling of these pressing issues and its broader domestic agenda.