Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya appeared Tuesday at his first major campaign rally for the upcoming election, where the world’s oldest head of state is seeking an unprecedented eighth term in office.
Addressing a crowd of supporters in Maroua, the chief town of the Far North Region, Biya pledged to address key issues facing the nation if re-elected in Sunday’s vote. His appearance marked a rare public engagement for the leader, who has been in power since 1982.
Pledges on Security and Jobs
The rally was held in the Far North Region, one of the country’s poorest and a region heavily affected by attacks from the extremist group Boko Haram. Biya focused his 25-minute speech on security, youth unemployment, and infrastructure improvements.
Acknowledging the persistent challenges faced by the populace, Biya offered a message of assurance.
“I am well aware of the problems that concern you, I know the unfulfilled expectations that make you doubt the future,” he said. “Based on my own experience, I can assure you that these problems are not insurmountable.”
He specifically targeted the issue of youth unemployment, promising comprehensive solutions.
“My goal is for every young person, wherever they are, to have opportunities that allow them to find a job or become an entrepreneur easily. No young person, whether they are a graduate or not, will be left behind,” Biya added.
President Biya is running as the candidate for the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). His bid for another seven-year mandate comes 17 years after a 2008 parliamentary vote removed presidential term limits, allowing him to stay in office indefinitely. The Far North region accounts for nearly 20% of the country’s 8.2 million eligible voters.
