Cameroon President Paul Biya has obtained legislative approval to stall parliamentary and municipal elections until 2026, ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement have a significant majority in the National Assembly and voted in favour of the bill to extend their tenure by a year to March 2026.
Wakata Bolvine, the president’s aide on parliamentary matters, said the postponement was necessary to “ease the electoral schedule”, as the country already had four elections, including regional council elections scheduled for next year,
Joshua Osih, opposition lawmaker and chairperson of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, said delaying the elections was completely undemocratic, adding that his party strongly opposed it.
The opposition is concerned that the extension could diminish the opportunity to challenge Biya. Holding legislative and municipal elections next year could have boosted their momentum ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October 2025.
Paul Biya, 91, is one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents. He took power in 1982 from President Ahmadou Ahidjo and has won every election, most recently a 2018 vote that his opponents called fraudulent.
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