Latest news with #PaulBiya
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameroon opposition leader banned from challenging world's oldest president
Cameroon's opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential election. Only 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country's electoral body Elecam were accepted. Kamto came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of fraud. He has not yet commented on the decision. President Paul Biya, 92, the world's oldest president, was included on the list and will seek an eighth term in office. Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 years. Biya will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the country. Social media revamp by 92-year-old president struggles to woo young Cameroonians Kamto was excluded because he was one of two candidates registered to represent the Manidem party. Even though he had been officially adopted by the party's ruling body, another candidate from a splinter group also registered himself under the party's name. Manidem president Anicet Ekane described Kamto's exclusion as "arbitrary and provocative". "We call on all Cameroonians to show calm and restraint because for the moment, it is only an offside goal. This tackle from behind must be sanctioned by the Constitutional Council which we will turn to," he added. Those disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a legal challenge. Kamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local councils. So Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local representation. Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to run. Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the list. More about Cameroon from the BBC: 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of career The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameroon opposition leader banned from challenging world's oldest president
Cameroon's opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential election. Only 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country's electoral body Elecam were accepted. No reason was given for the decision not to allow Kamto to stand. He came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of fraud. President Paul Biya, 92, the world's oldest president, was included on the list and he will seek an eighth term in office. Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 years. Biya will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the country. Social media revamp by 92-year-old president struggles to woo young Cameroonians Kamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local councils. So Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local representation. Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to run. Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the list. Those disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a challenge at the constitutional council. More about Cameroon from the BBC: 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of career The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameroon opposition leader banned from challenging world's oldest president
Cameroon's opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential election. Only 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country's electoral body Elecam were accepted. No reason was given for the decision not to allow Kamto to stand. He came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of fraud. President Paul Biya, 92, the world's oldest president, was included on the list and he will seek an eighth term in office. Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 years. Biya will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the country. Social media revamp by 92-year-old president struggles to woo young Cameroonians Kamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local councils. So Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local representation. Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to run. Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the list. Those disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a challenge at the constitutional council. More about Cameroon from the BBC: 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of career The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Maurice Kamto excluded from Cameroon election list by Elecam
Cameroon's opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country's electoral body Elecam were reason was given for the decision not to allow Kamto to stand. He came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of Paul Biya, 92, the world's oldest president, was included on the list and he will seek an eighth term in office. Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the media revamp by 92-year-old president struggles to woo young CamerooniansKamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a challenge at the constitutional council. More about Cameroon from the BBC: 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiersArt curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of careerThe lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rightsPaul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Cameroon bars main challenger to longtime leader from presidential race
Cameroon's electoral commission has rejected the candidacy of Maurice Kamto, President Paul Biya's main rival, in an upcoming presidential election, fuelling fears of unrest and increasing the likelihood of another win for the incumbent, who has led for decades. The chief of the electoral commission, ELECAM, announced the decision in a news conference on Saturday when he read out a list of 13 approved candidates, which did not include Kamto. No reasons were given for the exclusion, and those not listed have two days to appeal the decision. Kamto, 71, who had officially submitted his candidacy last week, was considered Biya's strongest rival in past elections. He came second during the last presidential election in 2018 with 14 percent of the vote, while Biya, who appears on the electoral list, cruised to victory with more than 70 percent in an election marred by allegations of fraud and a low voter turnout. Kamto sought to run as the candidate for the communist African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) party. In the 2018 election, Kamto stood for his own party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), which he established in 2012. For this year's election, Kamto had been nominated by MANIDEM. Fears of protests and unrest surged around Saturday's release of the list of approved candidates. Eighty-three names had been put forward to the electoral council. Security forces were deployed around the ELECAM headquarters and along major roads in the capital, Yaounde, and in Douala, the economic hub. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security had warned on Friday that the announcement could trigger protests in the capital. The definitive list of candidates will be announced in the coming days after any challenges to the provisional list are considered. Biya, 92, the world's oldest serving head of state, said last month he would seek re-election on October 12 despite rumours that his health is failing. He has been in power since 1982, nearly half his lifetime. Biya's rule has left a lasting impact on Cameroon. His government has faced various challenges, including allegations of corruption and a deadly secessionist conflict in the nation's English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands out of school. Among the candidates also approved to run in the election are former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, an ally of Biya's for nearly 30 years, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who resigned as employment minister in early June to submit his candidacy.
