By Mutunga Tobbias | The Common Pulse/latest news/ Kenya/United States/Africa / September 2025.
In Cameroon, politics is often a theater of drama, resilience, and dynastic influence. Few events have underscored this more than the recent appeal by Brenda Biya, the daughter of President Paul Biya, urging citizens to re-elect her father, who at ninety-two years old remains one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. The call, made with boldness and surprising conviction, has sent shockwaves through Cameroonian society and beyond, reigniting debates about leadership, democracy, succession, and the future of governance in the central African nation. At a time when questions about generational change dominate global conversations, Brenda Biya’s statement invites scrutiny on whether the old guard can still justify its hold on power or if this marks a desperate attempt to protect a long-established dynasty.
The Context of a Long Presidency
Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, succeeding Ahmadou Ahidjo and consolidating power in a manner that has made him one of the most enduring leaders in Africa and the world. For over four decades, he has presided over a nation rich in cultural diversity and natural resources but also mired in socio-political struggles, corruption scandals, and a conflict-ridden Anglophone crisis. Critics argue that his lengthy tenure has stagnated democratic progress and suffocated the possibilities of leadership renewal. Supporters, however, insist that his stability and experience have prevented Cameroon from descending into the chaos that has engulfed some of its neighbors.
It is against this backdrop that Brenda Biya’s recent intervention must be understood. Her call for re-election is not merely an emotional plea of a loyal daughter but a political statement, one that seeks to reinforce the continuation of a system that has heavily favored her family’s dominance in the political and economic structure of Cameroon.
Brenda Biya: The Voice of a Political Dynasty
Brenda Biya is not new to public attention. Known for her flamboyant lifestyle, social media presence, and controversies around fashion and celebrity-like appearances, she has often been portrayed more as a symbol of privilege than of political gravitas. Her decision to publicly advocate for her father’s continued rule marks a dramatic shift in her public persona. No longer speaking just as a daughter, she positions herself as a custodian of her family’s political legacy.
What makes her plea particularly striking is the dissonance between her father’s age and health challenges and the youthful energy she projects. At ninety-two, Paul Biya is far removed from the vigor often associated with leadership in a nation where the median age is around nineteen. Yet Brenda’s argument seems to suggest that experience, legacy, and continuity outweigh concerns about vitality and generational renewal. For many Cameroonians, this narrative feels disconnected from their lived realities, where unemployment, poverty, and political marginalization are daily struggles.
A Nation Torn Between Continuity and Change
The response to Brenda Biya’s statement has been polarized. Among supporters of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), her words are welcomed as a reminder of loyalty and consistency. They argue that Biya’s leadership, however contested, has provided a form of order that younger or untested leaders may jeopardize. To them, Brenda’s endorsement is a reinforcement of a trusted system.
On the other side, opposition voices and many ordinary citizens see her call as symptomatic of dynastic arrogance. They argue that it is unethical and impractical to ask a nonagenarian to shoulder the demands of leadership in a volatile and complex era. To them, Brenda’s statement is not only out of touch but an insult to the aspirations of millions of young Cameroonians yearning for representation, innovation, and fresh leadership. The opposition has seized upon her comments as evidence of the regime’s reluctance to consider succession and transition.
The Burden of Age in African Politics
The question of age in leadership is not new in African politics, and Paul Biya’s case represents the extreme end of this debate. While experience is often celebrated, there comes a point where concerns about health, mental agility, and the physical ability to govern become unavoidable. At ninety-two, Biya is older than most of his citizens’ grandparents. He governs a country where the youth population forms the majority and where technology, innovation, and digital engagement are reshaping the political conversation.
Brenda’s call thus forces a deeper examination of how much weight should be given to legacy versus capacity. Can an aging leader still deliver effectively in an era that demands agility and rapid adaptation? Or is this insistence on re-election merely a strategy to maintain a power structure that benefits a select elite while stifling democratic renewal?
The Shadow of Succession
One of the most troubling aspects of Biya’s long rule has been the lack of a clear succession plan. Unlike some leaders who groom successors or allow for a smooth transition, Biya’s reluctance to step aside has left Cameroon in a perpetual state of uncertainty. Brenda Biya’s intervention might also be seen as part of a larger attempt to prepare the ground for a dynastic succession, where family members continue to wield influence long after the patriarch is gone.
Observers note that Brenda’s growing visibility could signal an attempt to carve out her own political identity, albeit under the protective umbrella of her father’s legacy. If she intends to enter politics formally, this call for re-election is perhaps her first test in demonstrating loyalty to the regime’s continuity. However, whether Cameroonians are willing to accept a family dynasty in place of broader democratic participation remains highly doubtful.
Cameroonian Youth and the Question of Representation
Cameroon’s greatest contradiction lies in its demographic structure. With one of the youngest populations in the world, the country is ruled by one of the oldest leaders on the planet. Young people in Cameroon face staggering unemployment, limited political inclusion, and frequent suppression of dissent. In this context, Brenda Biya’s message appears tone-deaf to the frustrations of the youth.
Rather than inspiring hope, her plea has amplified a sense of alienation among many young Cameroonians who feel shut out of national decision-making. They argue that leadership should reflect the aspirations and energy of the majority, not the preservation of an aging dynasty. Social media platforms, where the youth are most active, have been flooded with sarcastic reactions, memes, and criticism of Brenda’s appeal, signaling a generational disconnect that cannot be ignored.
The International Lens
Globally, Brenda Biya’s statement has raised eyebrows. International observers, already wary of Biya’s long rule and Cameroon’s democratic deficits, interpret her words as confirmation that the regime intends to cling to power regardless of circumstances. Human rights groups, foreign governments, and international media are increasingly framing Cameroon as a cautionary tale of over-extended leadership.
Diplomatic circles quietly express concern about the implications of a ninety-two-year-old president seeking another mandate, especially in a region where instability often follows contested elections. For them, Brenda’s call is not simply a domestic affair but a factor in the regional stability of Central Africa.
The Psychology of Loyalty and Power
At a personal level, Brenda Biya’s plea reveals the psychological bind of loyalty within political dynasties. As a daughter, her appeal can be seen as an act of devotion to her father, a defense of his legacy, and an attempt to shield him from criticism. Yet, in the political realm, this loyalty translates into a reinforcement of authoritarian continuity.
This raises questions about the tension between personal relationships and national responsibilities. Can family members of political leaders truly separate their private affections from public duty? Or does dynastic loyalty inevitably compromise the broader democratic good? Brenda Biya’s statement shows how blurred these lines can become, especially in contexts where power is concentrated in families rather than institutions.
The Future of Cameroon’s Democracy
Brenda Biya’s intervention has done more than stir controversy, it has reignited a conversation about the future of Cameroon’s democracy. Should the country continue to depend on one leader, no matter how experienced, or should it embrace change and open the door for younger generations to take charge?
Between Legacy and Renewal
Brenda Biya’s call for Cameroonians to re-elect her ninety-two-year-old father is more than a plea of loyalty; it is a provocative statement about power, succession, and the fate of a nation. While some see it as a sign of steadfast continuity, many others interpret it as a tone-deaf attempt to preserve privilege in a country desperate for renewal.
The controversy surrounding her words highlights the contradictions of Cameroon’s political reality: a youthful nation ruled by an aging patriarch, a democracy overshadowed by dynastic tendencies, and a people torn between loyalty to stability and hunger for change.
As the debate unfolds, one thing remains clear, Cameroon stands at a crossroads. The choice between extending Biya’s rule and embracing new leadership will define the nation’s trajectory for years to come. And in this defining moment, Brenda Biya’s intervention has ensured that the conversation about legacy, age, and democracy cannot be ignored.
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