Yaoundé: Cameroon will vote in a presidential election on October 12, following a decree issued by President Paul Biya. As the date approaches, the political landscape is showing signs of shifting alliances and emerging challenges for the long-serving leader.
According to Nam News Network, President Biya, who has led Cameroon for nearly 43 years, has not yet confirmed whether he will seek an eighth term. Despite his long-standing leadership, several key supporters seem to be distancing themselves from the 92-year-old leader. This includes Bello Bouba Maigari, a former prime minister and ally for nearly three decades, who has announced his candidacy under the National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP).
The Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM), led by Biya, has maintained its grip on power since the country’s independence in 1960. However, the alliances that have traditionally supported Biya’s rule appear to be fracturing. Both Tchiroma’s and Maigari’s parties, previously allied with the CPDM, are now positioning themselves as independent political forces.
Other notable candidates in the upcoming election include Maurice Kamto, who was the runner-up in the 2018 presidential election and is a prominent critic of Biya. Additionally, opposition figure Cabral Libii, representing the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, is also in the race, presenting voters with a range of options as they head to the polls.