Brenda Biya, the only daughter of President Paul Biya, has ignited a political firestorm by publicly calling on Cameroonians to boycott her father's bid for an eighth term in the October 12 presidential election, accusing her family of mistreatment and decrying his 43-year rule in a viral TikTok video that has galvanized opposition voices.

In the 1-minute clip filmed in Switzerland, the 27-year-old influencer—daughter of Biya and Chantal Biya—declared, "I will not vote for Paul Biya," expressing hope for a new leader. She claimed her family had abused her, with relatives "wanting her dead," and vowed to sever ties with her parents.

The post, viewed over 1 million times within hours, drew swift backlash from the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), which labeled it a "family matter" not reflective of national sentiment, while no official presidential response emerged.

Brenda's plea amplifies mounting dissent against the 92-year-old Biya, Africa's second-longest-serving leader since 1982, whose health and frequent absences have fueled speculation.

Opposition figures like Maurice Kamto of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) hailed it as a "brave stand," urging youth turnout to end the "dynastic grip."

Catholic bishops, in January 2025, echoed calls for Biya to retire, citing stalled democracy amid allegations of vote rigging in 2018 (71% win) and 1992. Cameroon's youth, median age 18, grapple with 40% unemployment and the Anglophone crisis displacing 700,000 since 2016.

Brenda's video—her third controversy, following 2024's LGBTQ+ coming-out amid five-year prison penalties for same-sex relations—has trended on X with #BrendaBiya, amassing 50,000 posts. Allies like writer Calixthe Beyala amplified her message, endorsing opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma for a "victory against the monster."

Biya's CPDM, controlling Elecam, faces 13 candidates, including Hermine Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya (UDC) as the sole woman.