Overview

• At a stadium rally in Maroua, AFP journalists counted only a few hundred attendees despite organizers expecting nearly 25,000.
• In a 25-minute speech, Paul Biya said his determination to serve remains intact and promised jobs for young people, support for women and new infrastructure.
• Maurice Kamto was ruled ineligible by the Constitutional Council, and Human Rights Watch has warned that such exclusions undermine electoral credibility.
• Youth interviews point to widespread disillusionment and potential abstention after Kamto’s disqualification, though Elecam reports over 8 million registered voters, including about 2.7 million aged 20–35.
• Speculation about Biya’s health and sparse public appearances continues, which officials reject as unfounded, while insecurity and poor basic services persist in key regions such as the Far North.