By John Ikani
Cameroonian President Paul Biya is commemorating his 41-year tenure as the leader of the Central African nation today, November 6.
In the past year, thousands assembled in the capital, Yaoundé, for this event, although the president himself was not in attendance.
Paul Biya, who previously served as Prime Minister, assumed the presidency of Cameroon on November 6, 1982, succeeding the country’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Several voices within the ruling Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (RDPC) have already called for him to run in the 2025 presidential election for an eighth consecutive 7-year term.
However, critics of his administration, some of whom wore black on Sunday, have voiced concerns about corruption, poor governance, and an ongoing succession dispute.
Paul Biya, who celebrated his 90th birthday last February, is the second-longest-serving leader in Africa.
During his tenure, Cameroon has faced various challenges in recent years, including a secessionist movement in the English-speaking regions and the threat in the north from Islamic extremists aligned with the Nigeria-based Boko Haram group.
