FOREIGN: Cameroon’s President Biya to Seek Eighth Term at Age 92
Cameroon’s 92-year-old President, Paul Biya, has announced his intention to seek an eighth term in office in the upcoming October elections, putting an end to speculation that he would step aside due to age and health concerns.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is Africa’s second-longest-serving head of state, following Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea. His prolonged absence from public life in recent years, often attributed to health issues and frequent trips abroad, has sparked repeated rumors of his demise — including one last year that the government was forced to publicly dispel.
In a message posted to social media on Sunday, Biya reaffirmed his resolve to continue leading the nation. “Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us,” he said, adding that “the best is yet to come.”
Biya is only the second president of Cameroon since it gained independence from France in 1960. His more than four decades in power have been marked by a mix of stability and controversy. His administration has faced persistent allegations of corruption, growing political repression, and a violent separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions that has left hundreds dead and forced thousands of children out of school.
Reacting to the announcement, Cameroonian human rights lawyer and activist, Nkongho Felix Agbor, said Biya’s decision reflects a broader stagnation in the country’s political evolution.
“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,” Agbor told the Associated Press.
Cameroon is scheduled to hold its presidential election in October, but opposition groups and international observers have long expressed concerns over the fairness and transparency of the electoral process under Biya’s administration.
Source: AFP
