Opposition struggles to beat Cameroon’s 43-year leader

With weeks to go until an election that could extend the world’s oldest president’s 43 years in power, Cameroon's opposition is struggling. Its most popular figure has been barred from running, and the ll candidates remaining are likely to divide the vote.

- By NALovA AKUA

PAUL BIYA, 92, is seeking another seven-year term.

(CHRISTOPHE SIMON Pool Photo)

‘At 92, Paul Biyahas spent nearly half his years on Earthas president andis Africa’s second-longest-serving leader, behind only Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. If he wins an eighth seven-year term in the Oct. 12 vote, he could govern until he’s nearly 100.

During his decades in power, the Central African nation of nearly 30 million people has struggled with challenges from a deadly secessionist movement and chronic corruption that has stifled development despite rich natural resources such as oil and minerals. At least 43% of the country’s citizens live in poverty as measured by core living standards such as income, education and health, according to U.N. estimates.

Biya is rarely seen in public, and critics say his capacity to govern has been severely limited by his age.

Still, he’s likely to prevail over the il other candidates in the race, especially after Biya’s most threatening rival, Maurice Kamto, was barred from running. Kamto ran against Biya in 2018 and won 14% of the vote.