Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya appeared on Tuesday at his first campaign rally ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, where the world’s oldest head of state is seeking an eighth term in office.
Speaking before a crowd of supporters at a stadium in Maroua, in the Far North Region, Biya vowed to strengthen security, create jobs for young people, and improve infrastructure and social services if re-elected.
“My goal, my fellow citizens, is for every young person, wherever they may be, to have opportunities that enable them to easily find a job or become an entrepreneur,” Biya said.
The Far North, one of Cameroon’s poorest regions and home to nearly 20 percent of the nation’s 8.2 million registered voters, has been a focal point of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings. It also serves as a key political battleground, with two of Biya’s former allies and now opposition candidates, Bello Bouba Maigari and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, commanding strong local support.
The campaign stop marks Biya’s first public appearance since returning from a weeklong stay in Switzerland. Although no official reason was given for his trip, the president has frequently travelled to Europe for private visits and medical treatment in recent years. Critics argue that his advanced age has limited his ability to govern effectively.
Throughout his more than four decades in power, Cameroon has struggled with internal conflict, particularly a deadly separatist movement in the west, as well as widespread corruption that has stalled progress despite the country’s wealth in natural resources such as oil and minerals.
According to UN estimates, at least 43 percent of Cameroonians live in poverty based on income, education, and health indicators.
Despite these challenges, Biya is widely expected to win the election. His strongest challenger, Maurice Kamto, was barred from contesting in August, and opposition ranks remain divided.
Election credibility has been a recurring issue in Cameroon, with officials often accused of favouring Biya. Many electoral officers have previously held positions within his administration, and a two-term presidential limit was scrapped by parliamentary vote in 2008, allowing him to extend his decades-long rule.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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