On the eve of Cameroon’s October 12, 2025, presidential election, Brenda Biya, the 27-year-old daughter of President Paul Biya, shocked the nation with a viral TikTok video. “Do not vote for Paul Biya,” she declared, citing widespread suffering under his 42-year rule. “I hope we have another president,” she added, renouncing her family’s financial support. The video, viewed by millions, sparked intense debate.
Brenda quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, praising her father as a “great man” but not endorsing his vote. Some speculated that coercion was involved, joking, “Blink twice if you’re in danger.” Her defiance echoes her 2024 coming out as lesbian, a bold move in Cameroon, where homosexuality carries a five-year prison sentence.
Paul Biya’s Long Rule Under Scrutiny
Paul Biya, 92, seeks an eighth term in a country grappling with economic stagnation and corruption. Transparency International ranks his government among the world’s most corrupt. With an average daily income below $5 and a GDP per capita lower than it was in 1986, Cameroonians face significant hardship. Clashes in the Anglophone region have killed over 6,500 since 2017, yet draw little global attention.
The UN warns that the election may not be free, citing arrests and the disqualification of rivals, such as Maurice Kamto. Biya’s grip is likely to ensure victory, extending his rule to age 100. Local media suggest his son, Franck, may succeed him.
Brenda’s lifestyle contrasts sharply with Cameroon’s struggles. Educated in Switzerland and California, she flaunted luxury on social media—Rolls-Royces, Rolexes, and private jets. A 2025 Swiss trial revealed she lives at Geneva’s Intercontinental Hotel, with rooms booked year-round. The OCCRP reported the Biya family spent $65 million on Swiss hotel stays since 1982. Despite failed ventures in Beverly Hills and Yaoundé, her parents fund her.
Cameroon's 92-year-old President Paul Biya faces an unexpected challenge as he runs for an eighth term in office: a viral TikTok video by his daughter Brenda Biya saying she will not vote for him. https://t.co/PVkZwUTnwN
— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) October 3, 2025The TikTok video, replayed across West African media, resonates with activists. Transgender influencer Shaqiro, now in Brussels after fleeing Cameroon, called it a “slap in the face” to Biya. Yet, analysts like Muna Akera doubt it will sway the election. “Corruption makes regime change hard,” he told Reuters. Yaoundé’s poor infrastructure underscores public discontent.
Biya’s office stayed silent. Brenda, through her U.S. lawyer, declined to comment. Her apology video, read with oversized sunglasses, fueled speculation of pressure.
