Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, has once again extended his rule after being declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, securing an eighth 7-year term in office.
At 92, Biya, who has been in power since 1982, remains the world’s oldest sitting president, and if he completes this new term, he will be 99 by the time it ends.
The official announcement by Cameroon’s Constitutional Council sparked widespread anger, particularly among young citizens who had already been protesting the delay in releasing the election results. Many accuse Biya’s government of manipulating the outcome to maintain his decades-long grip on power.
The main opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma, had earlier declared himself the rightful winner and called on his supporters to reject what he described as a “stolen victory.” His call to action led to clashes in several major cities as security forces moved to disperse protesters demanding transparency and an end to Biya’s rule.
In the days leading up to the announcement, Biya’s government ordered a nationwide internet shutdown, a move widely seen as an attempt to curb online mobilization and limit the spread of dissent. The blackout left millions cut off from news and communication as tensions heightened across the country.
Biya first came to power in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. Over the decades, he has maintained control through elections often criticized by opposition figures and international observers as lacking fairness and transparency.
While the supporters of Paul Biya hail him as a symbol of stability, critics say Biya’s long rule has stifled political freedoms and deepened economic frustrations, particularly among the youth, who make up the majority of Cameroon’s population.
With mounting discontent and a new term ahead, many Cameroonians are questioning how much longer their aging leader can hold on to power in a country increasingly demanding change.
Opposition reports indicate that the Paul Biya government has killed at least four people in the ongoing anti-government protests, with several others injured as demonstrations continue across major cities in the country.
Africa Global News publication.