Paul Biya seeks his eighth time period as Cameroon president

[ad_1] YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon’s 92-year-old president introduced Sunday he'll search his eighth time period within the October elections. The announcement comes after hypothesis the growing older chief wouldn't run, setting the stage for an electoral showdown.

Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving president after Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, is ceaselessly sick and overseas. Final 12 months, speak unfold that he had died, prompting the federal government to publicly deny the rumors . Cameroon’s second president since independence from France in 1960, Biya has been in energy since 1982.

Promising that the perfect is but to come back in his submit on social media, Biya reiterated his dedication to rule, saying, “Relaxation assured that my dedication to serve you is commensurate with the intense challenges going through us.”

The greater than 40 years of Biya’s rule have left a long-lasting affect. His authorities has confronted numerous challenges, together with allegations of corruption and a secessionist movement in Cameroon’s English-speaking provinces that has compelled thousands out of school and triggered lethal clashes with safety forces.

“President Biya’s announcement to run once more is a transparent signal of Cameroon’s stalled political transition. After over 40 years in energy, what the nation wants is renewal — not repetition. Cameroonians deserve democratic change and accountable management,” Nkongho Felix Agbor, a human rights advocate and lawyer advised The Related Press.

Cameroon has additionally needed to take care of spillover violence by the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group, based mostly in neighboring Nigeria.

Just lately, several of Biya’s longtime allies defected to announce their very own candidacies for president.

He cruised to victory in 2018 with over 70% of the vote in an election marred by irregularities and low turnout on account of ongoing separatist and jihadi violence.

In a area threatened with shrinking democratic space , a number of different African international locations even have presidents accused of utilizing state mechanisms to lengthen their keep in energy. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni just lately sought nomination for a seventh time period, a transfer that might deliver him nearer to 5 a long time in energy in the East African country .

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