Politics1 min read

Cameroon sets date for twice-delayed legislative and local elections

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

President Paul Biya declared that legislative and local balloting will occur on February 7 following two separate postponements. The political landscape remains heavily volatile after a crackdown linked to the prior presidential vote resulted in up to 2,000 detentions. In addition to targeting dissent, the administration has barred all media discussions regarding the elderly head of state's health following rumors about his death. The nation is also awaiting an overdue government reshuffle and the critical appointment of a vice president to cement succession.

Key points

  • Repeated election delays extended the official terms of lawmakers and municipal councillo…: Repeated election delays extended the official terms of lawmakers and municipal councillors well beyond their mandates.
  • The reintroduction of the vice presidential position aims to formalize a line of successi…: The reintroduction of the vice presidential position aims to formalize a line of succession for the administration.
  • State authorities have strictly prohibited media discussions concerning the health and go…: State authorities have strictly prohibited media discussions concerning the health and governing capacity of Paul Biya.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest leader, sets February 7 for Cameroon’s delayed legislative and local polls.

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has announced that legislative and local elections will be held in the country on February 7 next year.

Biya, who is 93, made the announcement in a decree read on public radio on Monday.

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The decree comes at a tense moment for Cameroon, with authorities cracking down on the opposition, roughly a year after an election that handed Biya another term.

Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is the world’s oldest head of state.

His re-election in October last year set off widespread protests that the authorities met with a violent crackdown.

Lawyers cited by Human Rights Watch said security forces detained up to 2,000 people, and some of those detained remain in…

Politics