Analysts have predicted a victory for President Paul Biya. Now 92, he can be 99 by the point his time period finishes. He first got here to energy in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, and has dominated the nation since then. Mr. Biya was declared the winner of seven subsequent elections. Cameroon has seen simply two leaders since independence in 1960.
However, cracks could also be showing in Mr. Biya’s picture.
His well being has routinely been a subject of hypothesis as he spends most of his time in Europe, leaving day-to-day governing to key get together officers and members of the family.
Dr Benjamin Akih, an activist and professor at Syracuse University, believes that the opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary could win resulting from Mr. Biya’s age and his lengthy monitor report of operating Cameroon.
“I believe this election is totally different. Mr Biya was the weakest candidate the CPDM may put ahead on account of his age and the poor state of the nation after his 43 years in energy,” he mentioned.
“In the face of more and more tough worldwide surroundings, the challenges going through us are increasingly more urgent,” Biya mentioned in saying one other run. “In such a scenario, I can not shirk my mission.”
Mr. Biya faces 9 opposition candidates, together with some former allies and appointees. They embody Bello Bouba Maigari, who was minister for tourism, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who till just lately served because the minister of employment.
Mr. Biya voted at a main college within the capital Yaounde, telling reporters that he would not touch upon his plans till the outcomes have been in.
Results are anticipated on the newest by October 26.
Joshua Osih, an opposition candidate for president for the Social Democratic Front and a member of parliament who got here fourth within the 2018 election, informed The Associated Press his get together was fearful about voter fraud however harassed that the method of counting the votes will probably be lengthy.
“There remains to be plenty of room for progress to make issues smoother. Unfortunately, the bottlenecks as we often say are the a number of ballots as an alternative of single ballots and in addition the truth that the method is admittedly cumbersome,” mentioned Mr. Osih. “The system makes it such that the elections cannot be free and fair, that we know.”
There is a single spherical of voting in Cameroon and whoever will get probably the most votes is the winner.
Cheukam Ginette, a 34-year-old environmentalist and first-time voter, mentioned she will not select Mr. Biya.
“Things have to alter. First of all, life is dear, getting medical care will not be simple,” she said outside of a polling station in Yaounde. “There are not any roads, we have now potholes in every single place. Everything is ruined. That’s why I voted for the opposition. I would not have confidence within the electoral course of as a result of we all know our nation however I’m hopeful.”
At a marketing campaign rally final week within the northern metropolis of Maroua, Mr. Biya promised change for one in all Cameroon’s poorest areas. The predominantly Muslim north accounts for practically 20 per cent of the eligible voters, and Maigari and Bakary command robust followings there.
Cameroon faces escalating safety crises. In the western area, a secessionist conflict is being fought between primarily English-speaking separatists who declare they’re marginalized by the French-speaking majority, and authorities forces. In the north, the Boko Haram insurgency spills over from neighboring Nigeria, with armed teams routinely attacking border cities.
At least 43 per cent of the inhabitants dwell in poverty as measured by core residing requirements similar to revenue, schooling and well being, in keeping with UN estimates.
Around 8 million voters, together with over 34,000 abroad, are eligible to vote at greater than 31,000 polling stations within the Central African nation. Cameroon has a inhabitants of over 29 million folks, a majority overwhelmingly younger.
Leave a Comment