YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Cameroon’s long-serving leader Paul Biya has been sworn in for another seven-year term, extending his rule to more than four decades after a disputed election marred by opposition claims of fraud.
The 92-year-old, who has governed the Central African nation since 1982, took the oath of office before parliament in Yaoundé on Tuesday, pledging to uphold the constitution and “preserve national unity.”
Biya secured 54 percent of the vote in last month’s election, according to official results, defeating his closest challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who garnered 35 percent.
Bakary rejected the outcome, insisting he was the rightful winner and accusing the electoral authorities of manipulating the process — allegations that officials have denied.
The nonagenarian president, who is now the world’s oldest head of state, made only one public appearance during the campaign period, fueling criticism that his administration has become increasingly detached from the country’s political realities.
Biya’s continued grip on power has drawn both admiration and frustration: supporters credit him with maintaining stability in a volatile region, while critics accuse him of entrenching authoritarian rule and stifling dissent.
His new term is expected to deepen debate over succession and the future of governance in Cameroon, where a generation has known no other leader.
