The world’s oldest sitting head of state, 92-year-old President Paul Biya of Cameroon, has been sworn in for his eighth seven-year term. He has been in power since 1982. The BBC reports.
According to official figures, Paul Biya, who has been in power for 43 years, won 54% of the vote. His main opponent, Issa Chiroma Bakari, received 35%. Biya made only one public appearance during the election campaign. Opposition leader and former minister Chiroma Bakari said he was the real winner of the election, accusing the incumbent government of fraud. Paul Biya denies these allegations.
Mass protests erupted in the country after the results were announced, resulting in deaths. According to official Cameroonian authorities, at least four people were killed, while media reported 48 victims.
During his inaugural speech, the world’s oldest president expressed condolences to the victims of the protests and blamed those he called “irresponsible politicians” for the unrest.
“I can assure you that order will be restored,” he said, adding that dragging the country into a crisis was pointless.
Cameroon’s Constitutional Court dismissed eight complaints filed against the election process, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or the lack of authority to annul the election results.
