Cameroon's President Paul Biya Announces Bid for Eighth Term

Cameroon's president, Paul Biya, a 92-year-old who is the world's oldest serving head of state, has made a surprise announcement that he will run for an eighth term in the presidential election on October 12. Biya, who came to power in 1982, has been in office for over four decades, sparking widespread criticism that his long rule has stifled economic and democratic development. Biya's health has been the subject of frequent speculation, with him disappearing from public view for 42 days last year. His re-election bid had been widely anticipated but not formally confirmed until Sunday's social media post.

Key Takeaways:

• Paul Biya, the world's oldest serving head of state at 92, has announced his bid for an eighth term in the presidential election on October 12.
• Biya has been in office for over four decades, with his previous term ending in 2018, when he won with 71.28 percent of the vote despite opposition allegations of widespread irregularities.
• The president's health has been the subject of speculation, with him disappearing from public view for 42 days last year, leading to concerns about his fitness for office.
• At 100, Biya could remain in office until 2029, a prospect that has sparked a messy succession crisis in the country.
• Two former allies have quit the governing coalition and announced plans to run against Biya, while opposition parties and civil society groups have criticized his long rule and called for democratic change and accountable leadership.
• Cameroon has faced economic challenges and insecurity on several fronts, including a separatist conflict and incursions from the Boko Haram armed group.
• Opposition figures, including 2018 runner-up Maurice Kamto and lawyer Akere Muna, have also declared their intention to run in the election, promising reforms to ensure a fair vote.

Statistics:

• Biya has won seven previous presidential elections, with his last term ending in 2018.
• The president won the 2018 election with 71.28 percent of the vote.
• Biya has been in office for 43 years, since 1982.
• Cameroon is a cocoa- and oil-producing Central African nation with a population of over 25 million.
• The country has had just two presidents since independence from France and the United Kingdom in the early 1960s.

Sources:

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"President Biya's announcement to run again is a clear sign of Cameroon's stalled political transition. After over 40 years in power, what the country needs is renewal - not repetition. Cameroonians deserve democratic change and accountable leadership,"

• Cameroon's presidency on X: "I am a candidate in the presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face."
• The Associated Press news agency.