YAOUNDE, Cameroon—Paul Biya, the 92-year-old leader of Cameroon, has extended his 43-year presidency by winning an eighth term in office. The Constitutional Council declared on Monday that Biya secured 53.7% of the vote, outpacing his closest rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who garnered 35.2%. Biya’s campaign was notably subdued, with minimal public appearances, earning him the nickname ‘the sphinx’ for his secretive nature. Instead of traditional campaigning, Biya relied heavily on social media, including a campaign launch video on September 27 that critics claim used AI-generated imagery. His X account featured recycled photos and quotes, with his sole in-person appearance occurring late in the campaign in Maroua, a region traditionally loyal to him. Biya, who assumed power in 1982 during the Reagan era, has maintained a firm grip on Cameroon, appointing and dismissing officials at will and suppressing opposition. Despite international criticism and rumors of declining health, Biya has weathered social unrest, economic inequality, and separatist violence. Since 2018, when opposition parties alleged election fraud, Biya has limited his public engagements to pre-recorded speeches and family events with his wife, Chantal, and their three children.