Cameroon's Presidential Election: A Crucial Test of Power as President Biya Seeks Eighth Term

The presidential election in Cameroon, Africa's third-largest economy, is being held on Sunday, October 12, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya seeking his eighth term in office, despite a spirited opposition led by former allies and young voters. Mr. Biya, the world's oldest president, has promised to fix the economy, tackle youth unemployment, and address poverty, but critics say his age and lack of a clear succession plan have created a leadership vacuum, gutted the economy, and galvanized young people into political activism.

Key Takeaways:

• The election is expected to be the most consequential in Cameroon's recent history, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya facing off against a surprisingly spirited opposition led by former allies and young voters.
• The opposition, led by Maurice Kamto, was barred from the ballot after the electoral commission delayed a parliamentary election until next year, leaving Mr. Kamto's party with no seats and making him ineligible to run for president.
• Former President Biya's spokesman and minister of employment, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, resigned from the government in June and began his own campaign, posing a significant challenge to Biya's hold on power.
• Mr. Biya is widely seen as the favorite, with supporters arguing that his age is not an issue and that he is still a capable leader.
• Most analysts agree that elections in Cameroon are rigged in favor of keeping President Biya in power, with opponents accusing him of using his authority to intimidate the opposition and control the courts and electoral commission.
• The youth vote is critical, with young people in Cameroon inspired by Gen Z uprisings in Africa and around the world, and demanding change and leadership.
• Roughly one in every four Cameroonians is at risk of slipping into extreme poverty in the next 15 months, according to the World Bank.
• The western regions of Cameroon along the border with Nigeria have been trapped in a decade-old separatist conflict, with attacks by separatists and insurgents frequent.

Statistics:

• 92: The age of President Paul Biya.
• 42: The number of years President Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon.
• 27: The age of President Biya's daughter, Brenda Biya, who told young people on social media not to vote for her father.
• 99: The age President Biya will be by the end of his next seven-year term.
• 40: The number of years President Biya has been in power, creating a generational disconnect between him and the young people of Cameroon.
• 15: The number of months it may take for one in every four Cameroonians to slip into extreme poverty, according to the World Bank.
• 10: The number of years the separatist conflict in Cameroon's western regions has been ongoing.

Sources:

• "Cameroon's Presidential Election: A Crucial Test of Power as President Biya Seeks Eighth Term." The New York Times, October 11, 2022.