Voting begun on Sunday in Cameroon as citizens choose a president in a crucial election.
There have been queues in parts of the country especially in the capital, Yaounde where the incumbent President, Paul Biya enjoys a lot of support.
But there have been low turn outs at many polling stations due to the tension within the country.
The election is taking place amid violence in the English-speaking regions where some separatists have been demanding independence.
On Sunday there were reports of gunshots in English speaking region of Bemanda. Two separatist fighters were killed, according to RFI reports.
The demand has been met with government crackdown resulting in deaths and thousands fleeing their homes. The country’s longest serving President Paul Biya who has been in office since 1982 is favourite to win.
Defeating Paul Biya, 85 has been a long term agenda of many of the opposition political parties.
An hour into the #Cameroon Presidential Election, low voter turnout experienced in most polling stations across Yaoundé. Numbers expected to rise as day goes on pic.twitter.com/K7jroVKl5e
— CGTN Africa (@cgtnafrica) October 7, 2018
That mission has never materialized and just hours before the crucial vote, two opposition parties announced the formation of a coalition.
First ballots cast at Newbell Youth Centre polling station in #Douala. #Cameroon #Cameroun #Etoudi2018 #237Vote pic.twitter.com/An8ytTXSTs
— Daniel Finnan (@Daniel_Finnan) October 7, 2018
On Friday the leader of the People’s Development Front (FDP), Muna Akere decided to “withdraw” his candidacy.
That was to improve the chances of Maurice Kamto who is the head of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC).
Biya seeks to extend rule
President Biya is seeking to extend his current 36 year rule. The 85 year old is one of the longest serving leaders of an African country.
Biya came into power in 1982 when his predecessor then retired. He became president after serving as prime minister for seven years.
He supervised over the scraping of term limits from the Cameroon constitution in 2008. That allows him to run again, a decision that sparked violence in the past.
The president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who has been in power for 38 years is leading the chart.
Other longest serving African leaders include Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso (33 years), Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni (31years) and King Mswati III of Swaziland (31years).
Major contenders to Biya
There are two major opponents who could pose a strong challenge to Paul Biya. They are Maurice Kamto and Muna Akere.
Kamto is a former Minister Delegate of Justice between 2004 and 2011. He founded his political party in 2012. He was once a supporter of Paul Biya.
Akere Muna is the former President of the Cameroon Bar and founder of the Cameroonian branch of the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International.
His decision to form a coalition with Kamto’s party in Sunday’s election could be seen as significant in their attempt to unseat Biya.
But still many are uncertain about the future after Sunday’s poll.
Source: Africafeeds.com
