World’s oldest president could extend his rule as Cameroon votes in an election

YAOUNDE Cameroon AP Cameroon voted in an voting Sunday that could see Africa s oldest leader extend his rule by another seven years Analysts have predicted a success for President Paul Biya Now he would be by the time his term finishes He first came to power in following the resignation of Cameroon s first president Ahmadou Ahidjo and has ruled the country since then Biya was declared the winner of seven subsequent elections Cameroon has seen just two leaders since independence in His wellbeing has routinely been a topic of speculation as he spends most of of his time in Europe leaving day-to-day governing to key party functionaries and family members In the face of increasingly challenging international setting the challenges facing us are more and more pressing Biya revealed in announcing another run In such a situation I cannot shirk my mission Biya faces nine opposition candidates including chosen former allies and appointees They include Bello Bouba Maigari who was minister for tourism and Issa Tchiroma Bakary who until in recent weeks served as the minister of employment There is a single round of voting in Cameroon and whoever gets the the bulk votes is the winner Cheukam Ginette a -year-old environmentalist and first-time voter explained she won t choose Biya Things have to change First of all life is expensive getting therapeutic care is not easy she disclosed outside of a polling station in the capital of Yaounde There are no roads we have potholes everywhere Everything is ruined That s why I voted for the opposition I do not have confidence in the electoral process because we know our country but I m hopeful At at campaign rally last week in the northern city of Maroua Biya promised change for one of Cameroon s poorest areas The predominantly Muslim north accounts for nearly of the eligible voters and Maigari and Bakary command strong followings there Cameroon faces escalating measure crises In the western region a secessionist war is being fought between mainly English-speaking separatists who claim they are marginalized by the French-speaking majority and leadership forces In the north the Boko Haram insurgency spills over from neighboring Nigeria with armed groups routinely attacking margin towns At least of the population live in poverty as measured by core living standards such as income mentoring and strength according to U N estimates Around million voters including over overseas are eligible to vote at more than polling stations in the Central African nation Cameroon has a population of over million people a majority overwhelmingly young Polls are expected to close at p m and the results are expected at the latest by Oct McMakin revealed from Dakar Senegal Source