Cameroon: President Paul Biya sworn in for eighth term

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has been sworn in for an eighth presidential term by the country’s Parliament, as reported by Africanews via AP on November 6th.

The 92-year-old, who has governed Cameroon for 43 years, was re-elected after he secured 53.66% of the vote, according to polling by Cameroon’s Constitutional Court.

The election result granted Biya his eighth consecutive, term in office, meaning he could remain in power until he is nearly 100 years old.

Biya’s government has faced accusations of corruption, embezzlement, bad governance, and a failure to address issues. His age has also raised concerns over his ability to govern effectively. In 2024, the country banned reporting on Biya’s health amid false reports claiming he had died.

Before becoming president in 1982, Biya served as Cameroon’s prime minister and succeeded his predecessor in a constitutional succession. In 2008, he oversaw the passage of a constitutional amendment that abolished term limits.

The October 12th election has been highly contentious, with both Biya and the opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma, declaring victory. Young Cameroonians reportedly kept watch outside Tchiroma’s house, concerned that Biya’s administration would arrest him for claiming an early victory.

Concerns over the legitimacy of the election results caused many to stage demonstrations over alleged electoral fraud, which were subject to violent crackdowns by Cameroonian security forces.

A UN report on November 4th estimated that 48 people have been killed by security forces in Cameroon, with most dying from gunshot wounds or from injuries sustained when security forces beat them. On October 21st, Zouhairatou Hassana, was reportedly killed after a police officer shot her at a demonstration in Garoua.

On October 28th, Cameroon’s Interior Minister, Paul Atanga Nji, warned that Tchiroma would face legal action for inciting “violent post-election demonstrations.”

Tchiroma contested the election results, describing them as “truncated results” designed to grant Biya a “fictitious victory.” He urged his supporters to protest against the results, which cannot be appealed.

Supporters of Tchiroma had taken to the streets prior to the October 12th election, demanding change in the nation. Biya’s initial main challenger, Maurice Kamto, was disqualified from running for office on August 7th after a decision by Cameroon’s Constitutional Court.

Kamto was subjected to a police stakeout between June 8th and 9th, preventing him from leaving his building in Douala to meet with his Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party members. In 2020, protests calling for an overhaul of the country’s electoral system by the CRM led to 500 people being jailed.

Africanews via AP, Maghrebi.org