92-year-old Paul Biya wins 8th term as Cameroon president

Paul Biya has been announced as winner of Cameroon’s heavily disputed presidential election.

The Constitutional Council announced the results on Monday.

Biya, 92, will now serve his eighth consecutive term in office and will govern till 2032. He will be almost 100 years by then.

Biya’s win also means he will retain his undisputed title as the world’s oldest serving president.

According to the Constitutional Council, Biya won with a 53.66 percent share of the vote while Issa Tchiroma, main opposition candidate, polled second with 35.19 percent.

Tchiroma, 76, was Biya’s former spokesperson.

In the days preceding the results announcement, protests began to spread across the country largely due to Tchiroma’s instruction.

Tchiroma had galvanised large crowds demanding an end to Biya’s long tenure and drew endorsements from a wide range of opposition parties and civic groups.

Days after the polls, he claimed victory and called on Cameroonians to protest if the Constitutional Council announces “falsified and distorted results”.

At least four people were killed on Sunday in clashes with security forces in Douala, the country’s commercial hub, while over 100 were arrested.

After casting his vote in the October 12 polls, an undisturbed Biya said “nothing is given”.

“Let’s wait and see. Let’s wait for the name of the winner,” he added.

Biya’s win raises concerns of increased unrest in the French-speaking Central African country.

The president is rarely seen in public and is known for spending time outside Africa in Swiss hotels.

His long absences, sandwiched with an advanced age, have birthed multiple death rumours — but the nonagenarian has repeatedly proven them wrong.

Biya came to power in 1982 and is the second longest-serving president.

President Teodoro Nguema of Equatorial Guinea comes in at first place. Nguema began ruling in 1979.