92-year-old Paul Biya wins Cameroon’s eighth presidential term amid opposition outrage and claims of election irregularities.
Cameroon’s long-time leader, Paul Biya, has won a controversial eighth term in office at the age of 92, extending his decades-long rule over the Central African nation.
The country’s electoral commission announced Biya’s victory late Monday, declaring him the winner of a tightly contested presidential election. The result immediately sparked nationwide reactions, with opposition parties rejecting the outcome and alleging massive irregularities.
Biya, who first assumed office in 1982, remains one of the world’s longest-serving presidents. His continued hold on power has drawn criticism from international observers and human rights groups, who accuse his administration of suppressing dissent and curbing democratic freedoms.
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Opposition leader Maurice Kamto and other candidates have called for a review of the electoral process, describing it as deeply flawed and “lacking transparency.” Reports of voter intimidation and limited access for observers have also surfaced.
Despite the controversy, Biya’s supporters took to the streets of Yaoundé and Douala to celebrate his re-election, hailing him as a symbol of stability in a country often troubled by political and security challenges.
As Biya prepares for another term, analysts say Cameroon faces growing pressure to address economic inequality, the ongoing Anglophone crisis, and demands for political reform.