Cameroon's President Paul Biya has signed a decree calling for legislative and municipal elections to be held on February 7, 2027. The move comes after more than two years of extensions of parliamentary and municipal mandates. The decision was made on November 9, 2026, and marks a significant development in the country's electoral calendar. This decree puts an end to speculation about a possible further postponement of the elections.
The presidential decree was issued just in time, as November 9, 2026, was the deadline for convoking the electoral body for polls to be organized at the beginning of the following year. By publishing the decree on this date, President Biya has respected the minimum 90-day deadline imposed by Cameroon's electoral code. The mandates of deputies had been extended until December 20, 2026, and those of municipal councillors until February 28, 2027.
These elections will take place just over a year after the last presidential election, in which Paul Biya was declared the winner with 53% of the votes. The opposition parties garnered over 45% of the votes, with Issa Tchiroma's Front for National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) securing more than 35%. However, the FSNC was suspended for three months in late October 2026 by the Minister of Territorial Administration, citing "calls for insurrection".
The upcoming elections will be a test of the ruling party's continued dominance, as well as the ability of the government to organize local polls in a peaceful climate. In the 2020 legislative elections, the ruling Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (RDPC) won 152 out of 180 seats in the National Assembly. The party also controls major cities in the country.
The February 2027 polls will provide an indication of whether the RDPC's grip on power remains strong, following a presidential election that showed a strengthened opposition. However, the suspension of the FSNC has deprived a section of the electorate of political representation in the short term. This development has raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process and the conditions under which the opposition will participate.
The opposition's participation in the elections will be closely watched, given the challenges they face from institutional and judicial obstacles. In the previous legislative elections, the RDPC's victory was decisive, but the opposition's increased vote share in the presidential election suggests that the political landscape may be shifting.
The successful organization of these elections will be crucial for maintaining stability and legitimacy in Cameroon. The government's ability to ensure a level playing field for all parties and to address concerns about the electoral process will be essential in determining the credibility of the outcome.
Key points
- President Paul Biya has called for legislative and municipal elections in Cameroon to be held on February 7, 2027.
