Cameroon's 92-year-old president seeks 8th term amid health rumors and political challenges - Africa
Paul Biya, Africa's second longest serving president after Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, is frequently sick and abroad. Last year, talk spread that he had died, prompting the government to publicly deny the rumors. Cameroon's second president since independence from France in 1960, Biya has been in power since 1982.
Promising that the best is yet to come in his post on social media, Biya reiterated his determination to rule, saying, 'Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us."
The more than 40 years of Biya's rule have left a lasting impact. His government has faced various challenges, including allegations of corruption and a secessionist movement in Cameroon's English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands out of school and triggered deadly clashes with security forces.
'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,' Nkongho Felix Agbor, a human rights advocate and lawyer told The Associated Press.
Cameroon has also had to deal with spillover violence by the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group, based in neighboring Nigeria.
Recently, several of Biya's longtime allies defected to announce their own candidacies for president.
He cruised to victory in 2018 with over 70 percent of the vote in an election marred by irregularities and low turnout due to ongoing separatist and jihadi violence.
In a region threatened with shrinking democratic space, several other African countries also have presidents accused of using state mechanisms to prolong their stay in power. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recently sought nomination for a seventh term, a move that would bring him closer to five decades in power in the East African country.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt FM begins 5-leg West Africa tour for bolstering ties, counterterrorism efforts
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty travelled on Monday to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, beginning his tour to five West African countries, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and coordination on counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel and West Africa. The five West African countries are Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Senegal. During his tour in Nigeria, Abdelatty will hold high-level meetings with several senior Nigerian officials, representatives of regional blocs, members of the Nigerian business community, and the Egyptian expatriate community, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thirty CEOs and representatives of major Egyptian companies from various sectors are accompanying the minister on his African tour, which aims to enhance economic, trade, and investment cooperation with these countries. According to the statement, the tour reflects Egypt's commitment to active engagement and partnership with the African continent, supporting sustainable development efforts and promoting regional stability. The African tour followed Egypt's active participation at the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, where President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and FM Abdelatty held several meetings with African leaders and officials. During that session, El-Sisi announced the launch of the New Partnership for Africa's Development's (NEPAD) Centre of Excellence for Climate Initiatives in Cairo, describing the step as essential to equip the African countries with tools for adaptation and resilience. "Despite ongoing regional and international challenges, Africa holds vast potential and numerous opportunities for achieving sustainable development and prosperity," the president affirmed. For his part, FM Abdelatty discussed ways to intensify cooperation with African countries during the event. He stressed the importance of leveraging the expertise and capabilities of leading Egyptian companies, particularly in the energy, construction, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors. Abdelatty also highlighted Egypt's ongoing efforts to support development in Africa, particularly through the activities of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "EAPD supports Africa's development aspirations through the provision of capacity-building assistance, the transfer of knowledge, skills, and expertise, and the promotion of creative industries," El-Sisi said during the 23rd African Union Summit in June 2014. The agency also supports and promotes the private sector's role in trade and investment, contributing to the continent's overall economic development. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
2 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Egypt welcomes signing of peace deal between Congo, March 23 Movement
Egypt welcomed on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the signing of the Declaration of Principles between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo River Alliance – March 23 Movement in Doha, Qatar. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Egypt voiced hope the declaration will constitute a constructive step toward achieving lasting comprehensive peace in eastern DRC, contribute to improving humanitarian and living conditions in the country and strengthen foundations of peace and security at the regional level. Egypt also appreciated the role played by Qatar and the US in facilitating dialogue between the two parties, the statement read. Egypt reaffirmed its firm stand in support of all regional and international efforts aimed at achieving security, stability and development across the African continent, emphasizing the need to respect sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of states and to resolve conflicts through peaceful means. The post Egypt welcomes signing of peace deal between Congo, March 23 Movement appeared first on Egypt Independent.
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel strikes Yemen's rebel-held Hodeida port - Region
Israel said its forces struck Yemen's Hodeida port on Monday in the latest attack targeting Huthi rebels, with a security official from the group reporting a dock destroyed. Israel has carried out several air raids on Huthi-held areas of Yemen, including on Hodeida earlier this month, in response to repeated missile and drone attacks since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The rebels claim to act in solidarity with Palestinians. On Monday, the Israeli military "struck terror targets of the Huthi terror regime at the port of Hodeida and is forcefully enforcing the prevention of any attempt to restore the previously attacked terror infrastructure," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. "Yemen's fate will be the same as Tehran's," Katz added, in an apparent reference to the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran in which Israel pummelled Iranian military and nuclear sites, as well as targets in the capital. The Huthis' Al-Masirah television reported "a series of Israeli air strikes on the Hodeida port". A Huthi security official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that "the bombing destroyed the port's dock, which had been rebuilt following previous strikes." An Israeli military statement said that the targets included "engineering vehicles... fuel containers, naval vessels used for military activities" against Israel and "additional terror infrastructure used by the Huthi terrorist regime". It said the port had been used to transfer weapons from Iran, which were then used by the Huthi rebels against Israel. The statement added that Israel had identified efforts by the Iran-backed rebels to "re-establish terrorist infrastructure at the port". The Huthis recently resumed deadly attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting ships they accuse of having links to Israel, to force Israel to end the Gaza war. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
