₦airaland Forum

Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya has promised to restore order in the country gripped by post-election violence, as he was sworn in for an eighth consecutive term in office.

The BBC reported on Thursday that in his inaugural address, the world’s oldest president offered condolences to victims of the protests and blamed those he called “irresponsible politicians” for the unrest.

“I can assure you, order will reign,” he promised, saying it was pointless to plunge the country into crisis.

Following allegations of fraud during last month’s election, Biya described the electoral process as satisfactory and praised the electoral body Elecam.

The nonagenarian won 54% of the vote, compared to the 35% of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, according to the official results.

Tchiroma Bakary maintains he was the rightful winner of the poll and has accused the authorities of fraud, which they have denied.

The announcement of the result led to deadly protests across the country, which saw at least 14 people killed and more than 1,200 arrested, according to the National Human Rights Commission. Other institutions have presented a far higher death toll.

In his swearing-in speech at the country’s parliament in the capital, Yaoundé, Biya congratulated the security forces for containing the protests but failed to address complaints of excessive use of force.


He insisted the election was now in the past, urging citizens to work with him on building a “united, stable, and prosperous” country.

The president promised to make issues affecting women and young people a priority, with a commitment to tackle corruption and security challenges that have marred his administration over the years.

Biya first came into power in November 1982, after the resignation of President Ahmadou Ahidjo. His critics say he has ruled the country with an iron fist since then.

The BBC reports that before the inauguration, several parts of the country were crippled by a general strike called by Tchiroma Bakary, especially in his strongholds of Garoua and Douala.

He said he would resist until his “victory” was recognised, and went on to urge foreign powers to impose sanctions on Cameroonian officials over the recent crackdown on protests and complaints over electoral fraud.

Judges at the Constitutional Council had dismissed eight complaints about the election, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or a lack of jurisdiction to annul results.


The leader of the National Salvation Front party, Tchiroma Bakary, was a former government information minister who broke ranks with Biya to challenge him for power.

He has refused to file an official complaint.

HacheNoire:
He is a hardcore loyalist to western imperialism and why his case is not making the airwaves as it ought to.

He can rule for as long as he can if he keeps listening to his masters. It happened in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and currently happening in Rwanda. You just have to listen and you can become a life president.

It’s sad but it’s the reality we must all face as Africans. You only become a dictator when you fail to listen, and that point, the people think they are fighting for them, not knowing they are fighting for interest.

Has anyone ever noticed that those rich Arab countries never need democracy? Because they listen. But the president of Iran and Venezuela do not listen and why they are dictators😁 Same applied to Idi-Amin, Ghadaffi and Saddam.

erniok:
Don't add idi Amin to your list. Terrible and evil leaders deserve to be kicked out forcefully.

HacheNoire:
He is a hardcore loyalist to western imperialism and why his case is not making the airwaves as it ought to.

He can rule for as long as he can if he keeps listening to his masters. It happened in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and currently happening in Rwanda. You just have to listen and you can become a life president.

It’s sad but it’s the reality we must all face as Africans. You only become a dictator when you fail to listen, and that point, the people think they are fighting for them, not knowing they are fighting for interest.

Has anyone ever noticed that those rich Arab countries never need democracy? Because they listen. But the president of Iran and Venezuela do not listen and why they are dictators😁 Same applied to Idi-Amin, Ghadaffi and Saddam.

hafeeanubasy:
Even if Nigeria government directly really bombing churches like dunamis,the ark etc and are subservient to west especially America ,I swear will almighty God,they will look away!
Saudi Arabia is a perfect example

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/paul-biya-worlds-oldest-president-sworn-in-for-eighth-term-in-cameroon

HacheNoire:
Oh!

Can you make CONFIRMED references to his aims and o objectives that made him a dictator?

I have a feeling you watched the movie that demonized him. You never rest he’d about what he stood for.

carzeem1:
How the western media condition our collective minds to think in a certain pattern is perplexing. Same way they demonized Gaddafi n the rest.
Best way to breakaway from them is to re

HacheNoire:
He is a hardcore loyalist to western imperialism and why his case is not making the airwaves as it ought to.

He can rule for as long as he can if he keeps listening to his masters. It happened in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and currently happening in Rwanda. You just have to listen and you can become a life president.

It’s sad but it’s the reality we must all face as Africans. You only become a dictator when you fail to listen, and that point, the people think they are fighting for them, not knowing they are fighting for interest.

Has anyone ever noticed that those rich Arab countries never need democracy? Because they listen. But the president of Iran and Venezuela do not listen and why they are dictators😁 Same applied to Idi-Amin, Ghadaffi and Saddam.

chudez0147:
Not true. Did Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe listen?

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/paul-biya-worlds-oldest-president-sworn-in-for-eighth-term-in-cameroon

HacheNoire:
What’s your point! I seem not to get and will appreciate if you go in-depth.

Mugabe was never a fan of the West. He was demonized too. Everything that stood for its people was demonized in Africa.

Chicago Man Sentenced For Lobbying to Lift Mugabe Sanctions

A Chicago man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in prison for his role in a bizarre scheme to get U.S. sanctions on Zimbabwe lifted.

Prosecutors said C. Gregory Turner met multiple times in Africa with Zimbabwean government officials, including President Robert Mugabe and Gideon Gono, governor of Zimbabwe's reserve bank, both of whom are under U.S. sanctions.

He was one of two men charged in 2013 with violating sanctions by providing services to Zimbabwean officials.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-252B-6065

HacheNoire:
He is a hardcore loyalist to western imperialism and why his case is not making the airwaves as it ought to.

He can rule for as long as he can if he keeps listening to his masters. It happened in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and currently happening in Rwanda. You just have to listen and you can become a life president.

It’s sad but it’s the reality we must all face as Africans. You only become a dictator when you fail to listen, and that point, the people think they are fighting for them, not knowing they are fighting for interest.

Has anyone ever noticed that those rich Arab countries never need democracy? Because they listen. But the president of Iran and Venezuela do not listen and why they are dictators😁 Same applied to Idi-Amin, Ghadaffi and Saddam.