Cameroon's President Paul Biya Announces Bid for Seventh Term Amid Growing Frustration

Despite being 92, Cameroon's President Paul Biya has announced his candidacy for another seven-year term in October, sparking growing frustration among citizens and calls for him to step down. Biya has been in power since 1982, and his rule has seen a steady decline in voter turnout, with only 53.3% of registered voters casting their ballots in 2018, compared to over 80% in earlier elections. Many people in Cameroon live in poverty, with a third of the population surviving on less than $2 a day, and a growing number of young people feel disconnected from the political process.

Key Takeaways:

President Paul Biya, 92, has announced his candidacy for another seven-year term in October, despite growing frustration among citizens and calls for him to step down.
Biya has been in power since 1982, with a steady decline in voter turnout, from over 80% in earlier elections to 53.3% in 2018.
Many people in Cameroon live in poverty, with a third of the population surviving on less than $2 a day.
A growing number of young people feel disconnected from the political process, with some saying they have given up on the government.
Two of Biya's former ministers, Bello Bouba Maigari and Issa Tchiroma, have resigned and will run against him.
Opposition figures, such as Kah Walla, leader of the Cameroon People's Party, say the elections cannot be fair under current conditions and will boycott the vote.
MRC's candidate, Maurice Kamto, hopes to rally young and undecided voters, but mistrust in the electoral system runs deep.

Statistics:

Only 53.3% of registered voters cast their ballots in 2018.
More than 80% of workers are informally employed, according to a national survey.
A third of the population in Cameroon survives on less than $2 a day.
Voter turnout has been steadily declining since Biya's rule began.
Biya has been in power for over 40 years, with his rule marked by a significant decline in voter turnout and growing poverty.

Sources:

The Guardian