The world’s oldest head of state, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 92, has mentioned he’ll run as soon as extra for re-election in October aiming to increase his 43 years in energy.
“Relaxation assured that my dedication to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” he mentioned in a publish on X.
He added that his determination to go for an eighth time period got here after “quite a few and insistent” calls by folks from all areas in Cameroon and the diaspora.
Biya’s administration has confronted criticism over corruption, embezzlement, dangerous governance and failure to deal with safety challenges. There have additionally been considerations about his well being and talent to control.
His absence from the general public for greater than six weeks final yr led to hypothesis about his well-being and unfounded rumours that he had died.
His candidacy was anticipated however not formally confirmed till Sunday’s social media publish.
Biya has by no means misplaced an election since taking energy in 1982 and if he wins one other seven-year time period he might be president till he’s almost 100.
There have been rising calls from inside and out of doors Cameroon for him to step apart and provides means for recent management within the central African nation.
His candidacy follows a latest political divorce from key allies from the northern areas, who had been essential in serving to safe votes in earlier elections from that a part of the nation.
Two of those males – outstanding minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary and former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari – just lately give up the ruling coalition and individually introduced plans to run within the election.
Final month, Tchiroma mentioned the Biya administration he belonged to had “damaged” public belief and he was switching to a rival social gathering.
A number of opposition figures, together with 2018 runner-up Maurice Kamto, in addition to Joshua Osih, Akere Muna, and Cabral Libii, have additionally introduced their candidacies.
Nonetheless, members of the governing Cameroon Individuals’s Democratic Motion and different supporters have since final yr publicly referred to as for Biya to hunt one other time period. He was already the de-facto candidate because the social gathering chief.
Biya abolished time period limits in 2008, enabling him to hunt the presidency indefinitely.
He received the 2018 elections with greater than 71% of the vote though opposition teams accused the method of widespread irregularities.
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