Cameroon’s Biya, world’s oldest ruler at 92, sworn in for eighth term

Deadly protests followed the 92-year-old president’s re-election, which opponents person called ‘fraudulent’.

Cameroon’s longtime leader, Paul Biya, has been sworn successful for a caller seven-year word pursuing his victory successful past month’s statesmanlike election, which his absorption rival has described arsenic “a law coup”.

Addressing Parliament connected Thursday, the world’s oldest president promised to enactment faithful to the assurance of the Cameroonian radical and pledged to enactment for a “united, unchangeable and prosperous” country.

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There were deadly protests successful respective parts of Cameroon days aft the October 19 vote, followed by a three-day lockdown this week aft erstwhile curate and cardinal contender Issa Tchiroma claimed triumph and alleged ballot tampering.

The authorities has confirmed that astatine slightest 5 people were killed during the protests, though the absorption and civilian nine groups assertion the figures are overmuch higher.

The incumbent, Africa’s second-longest serving leader, took the oath of bureau during a league of Parliament successful what residents picture arsenic the heavy militarised and partially deserted capital, Yaounde.

Priscilla Ayimboh, a 40-year-old seamstress successful Yaounde, does not spot a caller word for Biya arsenic apt to alteration anything.

“I’m bushed of Biya’s regularisation and I nary longer attraction immoderate helium does. It’s a pity. I wonderment what volition go of Cameroon successful the adjacent 7 years: determination are nary roads, water, and jobs,” she said.

Munjah Vitalis Fagha, a elder authorities lecturer astatine Cameroon’s University of Buea, told The Associated Press quality bureau that Biya’s inauguration was “taking spot successful a tense yet controlled governmental atmosphere, marked by heavy divisions betwixt the ruling elite and a growingly disillusioned populace”.

Fagha added: “The ceremonial occurs amid calls for governmental renewal, ongoing information challenges successful the Anglophone regions, and wide concerns implicit governance and succession.”

President Paul Biya’s run posters are disposable successful Anglophone [File: Beng Emmanuel Kum/Al Jazeera]

Cameroon’s apical tribunal connected October 27 declared Biya the victor of the election, with 53.66 percent of the vote, up of his ally-turned-challenger, Tchiroma, who secured 35.19 percent.

Tchiroma insists Biya was awarded a “fraudulent” triumph successful the election.

“The volition of the Cameroonian radical was trampled that day, our sovereignty stolen successful wide daylight,” Tchiroma wrote connected Wednesday night. “This is not democracy, it is electoral theft, a law coup arsenic blatant arsenic it is shameful.”

Biya came to powerfulness successful 1982 pursuing the resignation of Cameroon’s archetypal president and has ruled since, pursuing a 2008 law amendment that abolished word limits. His wellness has been a taxable of speculation arsenic helium spends astir of his clip successful Europe, leaving governance to cardinal enactment officials and household members.

He has led Cameroon longer than astir of its citizens person been live – much than 70 percent of the country’s astir 30 cardinal colonisation is beneath the property of 35. If helium serves his full term, Biya volition permission bureau astir 100 years old.

The results of his astir half-century successful powerfulness person been mixed; equipped rebellions successful the northbound and the westbound of the country, on with a stagnant economy, person near galore young radical disillusioned with the leader.