As Cameroon edges toward the October 12, 2025, presidential election, incumbent President Paul Biya has officially presented his manifesto, a wide-ranging program that emphasizes continuity, stability, and an ambitious vision of national renewal.
In a message to Cameroonians a day after returning to the country after a brief private stay in Geneva, Biya, who has led the nation since 1982, thanked citizens for what he described as their “constant trust” over the decades.
“Together, we have overcome many trials and celebrated great victories,” he declared, stressing that despite global crises and domestic turbulence, Cameroon has remained “on its feet and moving forward.”
Peace and Security at the Core
Biya’s manifesto places the preservation of peace, security, and territorial integrity at the heart of his program. He promised to complete efforts to restore calm in crisis-hit regions, bolster the fight against organized crime and trafficking, and establish a specialized unit to combat cybercrime. He also vowed to intensify measures against tribalism and reinforce national cohesion.
“The call I hear most clearly from you, my compatriots, is for a return to peace throughout the country,” Biya said, underscoring his intention to finish what he describes as “actions already underway” in restive areas.
Democracy, Freedoms, and Governance
The manifesto also highlights Biya’s commitment to strengthening democracy and freedoms. He pledged reforms to ensure more transparent and inclusive elections, enhanced protections for freedom of expression, and a new legal framework for political parties represented in Parliament.
Biya also promised to expand protections for vulnerable groups, insisting that the “rights of all Cameroonians must be respected and reinforced.”
Economy and Emergence
The incumbent reiterated his longstanding goal of steering Cameroon toward “emergence.” His program includes reforms to the investment code to boost industrialization, support for entrepreneurship through improved access to financing, and a revival of rural banking to support agriculture.
Paul Biya's 2025 Message.He pledged stronger anti-corruption efforts, tax relief for local producers, and more incentives for “Made in Cameroon” products to shield household budgets and strengthen national production.
Improving Daily Lives
Biya devoted significant space in his manifesto to quality of life issues. He promised continued wage improvements, tighter controls on the prices of essential goods like bread, oil, and rice, and broader implementation of social tariffs for electricity, water, and housing.
Healthcare, education, and housing featured prominently, with pledges to expand universal health coverage, modernize hospitals, and upgrade schools and teachers’ conditions.
“As long as a Cameroonian does not have enough to eat, does not have access to education, does not receive the healthcare he or she is entitled to, our task will not be complete,” he said.
Women, Youth, and the Future
A major section of the manifesto is devoted to empowering women and youth. Biya promised expanded opportunities for young people in employment and entrepreneurship, stronger laws against violence targeting women, and the long-awaited finalization of the Family Code.
Paul Biya's 2025 Message.He also called digital innovation and ecology “national priorities,” vowing to make Cameroon a leader in the Congo Basin’s climate agenda while supporting local tech startups and digital decentralization.
Infrastructure and Decentralization
On infrastructure, Biya promised continued modernization of roads, ports, railways, and airports, while accelerating urban planning reforms. He also reaffirmed his commitment to completing decentralization, promising faster transfers of resources to local councils and stronger oversight of municipal governance.
“New Citizenship” and the 2025 Vote
Perhaps the most ambitious pledge in Biya’s manifesto is the creation of what he calls a “new Cameroonian citizenship.” He envisions a society of “disciplined, tolerant, and patriotic Cameroonians” who combine professional expertise with ethical commitment, and who place the community above personal gain.
“As we approach October 12, I call on you to renew your trust once again,” Biya concluded. “By voting for Paul Biya, you are choosing peace, unity, and the continued rise of Cameroon.”
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