Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state at 92, is widely expected to extend his 43-year grip on power, despite a reinvigorated opposition calling for change.
The country went to the polls on Sunday, October 12, and vote counting is currently underway. Results are expected within 15 days.
According to Reuters, Biya, who has ruled since 1982, is likely to be re-elected, largely due to his tight control over state institutions and the divided nature of the opposition.
The publication reported that Biya’s critics still hope to see him unseated, pointing to decades of economic stagnation and persistent tensions in the Central African nation of 30 million, a key producer of oil and cocoa.
The 92-year-old scrapped presidential term limits in 2008 and has long relied on divide-and-rule tactics to maintain control. Under the country’s single-round voting system, a candidate only needs a simple majority to win.
