Mr Biya is expected to win re-election in 2011 for another seven-year mandate, and the RDPC will add to its overwhelming majority in parliament in 2012. Through co-option and repression the president has marginalised the opposition parties. The largest of them, the Social Democratic Front (SDF), which relies largely on its regional and anglophone support base, now holds only 16 parliamentary seats out of 180, compared with 43 in 1997. The alleged manipulation of census results to favour the RDPC and recent amendments to electoral law, such as the restoration in April of the government's influence over the administration of elections, were met with scattered demonstrations. However, only the SDF leader, John Fru Ndi, continues to stand by his conditional boycott of the election, and this has led to a split in the SDF that is expected to further divide the opposition vote. Moreover, vain protests by the opposition against the ruling party's manipulations in the census and the organisation of the presidential elections have so far merely highlighted its impotence, increasing popular disillusionment with politics.

More significant challenges to Mr Biya's candidacy are expected to come from within the ruling party. However, as seen by the stillborn campaign bid by an RDPC member of parliament, Ayah Paul Abine, Mr Biya will continue to receive support from most of the higher cadres of government and the RDPC, who owe their privileged position to him. Moreover, none of the RDPC elites has managed-or been given the opportunity-to build much support beyond its particular region or ethnic group.