The 92-year-old Paul Biyia, the oldest state leader in the world, remains the ultimate protagonist of his political scene- with 31 million inhabitants- for more than four decades. Now, he is preparing to claim an eighth consecutive term in the forthcoming October elections. Once re -elected, he could remain in power up to almost his centimeter birthday, which will bring him to the longest -running African leader.
Due to his age, his health is a constant subject of debate in the country. Last October, his two -month absence from the public sphere fueled rumors of deteriorating his or her health or even death, pushing the interior ministry to ban any relevant reference to the media for “national security” reasons. However, this summer he himself confirmed his candidacy, arguing that from all areas of the country and the dispersion of Cameroon.
Beygia ruled Cameroon since 1982, after abolishing the president’s restrictions in 2008, paving the way for unlimited re -election. In the last elections, in 2018, 71.28% of the votes received, although the opposition reported serious irregularities.
Internal judgments and international criticism
Although its ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), maintains a solid control on the political scene, the opposition remains deeply fragmented. Analysts estimate that only a strong transitional coalition could really threaten its sovereignty. However, more than 300 parties have failed to unite, while cooperation efforts, such as that of two parties in 2024, were deemed “illegal” by the government.
During the forty -three years of his rule, Beyya theoretically established the multi -party democracy and strengthened ties with Western governments. However, Cameroon remains deeply divided. Since 2017, the country has been experiencing a bloody civil war, with English-speaking separatists- Cameroon is primarily a French-speaking- to claim. Many believe that the president’s advanced age undermines his ability to manage crises that require political boldness and physical presence in the affected areas.
His critics also accuse him of stifling any form of opposition. Hundreds of peaceful protesters have been imprisoned, while 2018 presidential election runners -up, Morris Kamti, was imprisoned for nine months without charges, in 2019 – it was released only after intense international pressure.
Beygia has been stigmatized by complaints of human rights organizations of out -of -court executions, arbitrary arrests, torture and persecution of individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is characteristic that the imprisonment of up to five years.
That is why last year, the public statement by President Brenda’s daughter, Brenda, who lives in the US, had made sense. In a post on Instagram, she revealed that she was homosexual, hoping, as she later explained in an interview with the French newspaper, Le Parisien, to help change her country’s legal framework.
