Court okays 92-year-old Cameroon president, Paul Biya, to seek eighth term

Cameroon’s constitutional court has dismissed a bid to prevent President Paul Biya from running for re-election, paving the way for the 92-year-old leader to extend his nearly 43-year grip on power.

Biya, already the world’s oldest sitting president, is vying for another seven-year mandate in the October 12 polls. His health, age, and ability to govern have become central issues as the election approaches.

The challenge was filed by Akere Muna of the Universe party, one of 12 candidates in the race, who argued that Biya should not be allowed to stand.

However, after two hours of legal debate and a closed-door deliberation, court president Clement Atangana threw out the petition, ruling that it lacked merit.

Muna, a lawyer and long-time anti-corruption advocate, said he respected the court’s verdict but insisted key questions remain over Biya’s fitness for office.“President Biya reigns but he doesn’t govern,” he said, with his legal team and supporters claiming the veteran leader relies heavily on his entourage and wife to perform presidential duties.

Cameroon’s fractured opposition has struggled to mount a unified challenge against Biya, who has faced repeated accusations from rights groups of silencing political opponents.
(AFP)