Keypoints:
- Bello Bouba Maigari joins presidential race
- Second northern politician to challenge Biya
- Election seen as test of ruling party unity
CAMEROON’S long-time tourism minister, Bello Bouba Maigari, has declared his candidacy for the October 2025 presidential election, becoming the second major northern ally of President Paul Biya to enter the race, according to Reuters.
Maigari, 78, accepted the nomination from the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), a move that underscores growing cracks within Biya’s ruling coalition. The president, in power since 1982, has yet to confirm whether he will seek another term.
North emerges as election battleground
The political dynamics in Cameroon’s northern provinces are now centre stage. Adamawa, North, and Far North regions hold over 2 million of the country’s 8 million registered voters, giving them strategic electoral weight.
Maigari’s decision follows last week’s resignation and presidential announcement by Issa Tchiroma Bakary, another Biya-era cabinet minister from the north. Both figures had been closely aligned with the president, but their campaigns signal a shift in elite loyalty — and perhaps preparation for a post-Biya political era.
Presidency still silent on re-election plans
While Maigari remains tourism minister, his candidacy reflects internal manoeuvring within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), as anticipation grows around Biya’s political future. At 92, Biya is the world’s oldest serving head of state.
Analysts say the northern candidacies suggest that once-loyal insiders are increasingly willing to test the waters, especially amid public calls for leadership renewal. Some believe the move could embolden others within the establishment to step forward.
What to watch as elections approach
- Will Biya run again? The president has not announced his intentions. His silence is fuelling speculation and repositioning among allies.
- Rising northern influence: With two candidates already in the race, the north’s political leverage is expanding.
- Fragmented ruling base: The entry of top ministers into the race points to growing cracks within the CPDM.
As the countdown to October’s vote continues, Bello Bouba Maigari’s candidacy raises the stakes in what could become Cameroon’s most unpredictable election in decades. Whether President Biya decides to run or step aside, the northern elite’s political ambitions are already reshaping the race.
