Biya: Four decades and counting

The longtime leader's BLGBTQI musician daughter urged the Cameroonians people not to vote for him

- Lenin Ndebele

Same old: Paul Biya, aged 92, has just been elected president of Cameroon for the eighth consecutive time. Photo: X/Pr. Paul_Biyao

(X/Pr. Paul_Biyao)

Paul Biya, the 92-year-old president of Cameroon, and the world's oldest head of state, has been reelected to an eighth consecutive term, a decision that has drawn mixed reactions.

Leading up to the elections, his daughter, Brenda Biya, a 27-year-old LGBTQI musician residing in France, publicly voiced her disapproval of his continued tenure.

However, Biya secured 53% of the presidential vote, thereby retaining his position.

Last month, Brenda Biya shared a video on TikTok pleading with Cameroonians not to support her father because "his leadership has brought suffering to many", concluding that, "I hope we get a new president."

She hasn't spoken to her father since July last year, after she came out of the closet with a smooch with Brazilian model Layyons Valenca.

The kiss was defiant of her strict father because, under his country's laws, Brenda would be liable to a maximum five-year prison term and a fine.

To avoid embarrassment, Biya asked his daughter to take down the video, but she refused and instructed him to stop communicating with her.

Despite criticism she has attracted for living large in France, and allegations that she was being taken care of with taxpayers' money, Brenda emerged as a role model of civic courage for some when she called on voters to remove her dad from power.