Paul Biya: Biography, age, family, and detailed profile of the 92-year-old Cameroon president

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council on Monday declared 92-year-old Paul Biya the winner of the country’s highly contested presidential election, extending his decades-long rule.

Biya, who has been in power since 1982, secured a fresh seven-year mandate after polling 53.66 per cent of the votes.

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His closest rival, 76-year-old Issa Tchiroma, a former government spokesperson, came second with 35.19 percent.

With this victory, Biya begins his eighth consecutive term, set to govern until 2032, by which time he will be nearly 100 years old.

BREAKING: The world’s oldest president Paul Biya, 92 re-elected to an 8th term with 53.66% of the vote, Cameroon’s Constitutional Council says.

Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma who had declared victory got 35.2% pic.twitter.com/pRTpGEuDaM

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) October 27, 2025

Who is Paul Biya?

Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo is a Cameroonian politician who holds the distinction of being one of the world’s longest-serving non-royal heads of state. Having held power since 1982, his presidency spans over four decades, marking him as the second president in Cameroon’s history since its independence in 1960.

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His longevity and often private nature have earned him the sobriquet, “The Sphinx of Etoudi,” a reference to the presidential palace in Yaoundé.

Biography and Age

Detail Information

Full Name Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo

Date of Birth February 13, 1933

Current Age 92 (as of 2025)

Place of Birth Mvomeka’a, French Cameroon (now in the South Region of Cameroon)

Ethnicity Beti

Religion Catholic

Paul Biya was born into a modest family; his father, Étienne Mvondo Assam, was a catechist. He received a classical education, beginning at Catholic mission schools before attending the prestigious Lycée Général Leclerc in Yaoundé.

His academic pursuits led him to France, where he obtained a law degree from the University of Paris and further diplomas from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris and the Institut des Hautes Études d’Outre Mer (IHEOM), specialising in public law and political science.

Paul Biya’s Political journey

Biya’s political career is characterised by a disciplined and swift rise through the bureaucratic ranks under Cameroon’s first President, Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Early Civil Service (1960s–1975): Upon returning to independent Cameroon, Biya quickly established himself as a loyal and capable civil servant, holding various key positions, including Director of the Civil Cabinet and Secretary-General of the Presidency (1968–1975).

Prime Minister (1975–1982): In 1975, following constitutional amendments, Biya was appointed Prime Minister. A subsequent constitutional change in 1979 designated the Prime Minister as the President’s constitutional successor.

The Unexpected Succession (1982): On November 4, 1982, President Ahidjo unexpectedly resigned, citing health concerns. Two days later, on November 6, Paul Biya was sworn in as the second President of Cameroon 🇨🇲, in a move that surprised many observers, as Ahidjo was a Muslim from the north and Biya a Catholic from the south.

Consolidation of Power (1984): After a failed coup attempt in 1984, allegedly orchestrated by loyalists of the former President, Biya skillfully solidified his control. He eliminated rivals and took over the leadership of the ruling party, eventually transforming the Cameroon National Union (CNU) into the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM/RDPC), the political machine that has maintained his power ever since.

Family and Personal Life

President Biya has been married twice and is a father to three children.

First Wife: He married Jeanne-Irène Atyam in the early 1960s. She passed away in 1992.

Second Wife: In 1994, he married Chantal Pulchérie Vigouroux (now Chantal Biya). Known for her distinctive, elaborate hairstyles, the First Lady is significantly younger than the President and has a very public, philanthropic profile, often representing the country at international events.

Children: The President has three known children: Frank Biya, Paul Biya Jr., and Anastasie Brenda Biya Eyenga. Frank Biya, in particular, has been a subject of political speculation, though he does not hold a formal position in government.