Some 51 university students, who posed as representatives of student leaders from state and private universities on August 14 affirmed they were satisfied with President Paul Biya’s 42-year leadership and want it to continue.
Their statements came after they met with Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Secretary General at the Presidency, who is coordinating the campaign for Biya’s bid for an eighth term.
Most of these youths have known only one president in their lifetime, Paul Biya, who came to power in 1982—years before most of them were born.
While voicing their support, they admitted to having seen his vision for the Cameroonian youth and would want Biya to continue leading them.
However, Biya has not released his campaign manifesto, unlike the 11 other candidates for the 2025 presidential election, but messages on his social media bear vague promises, one of which stated that “the best is yet to come.”
Under Biya’s leadership, youth emigration has spiked, corruption has infested the public service and youths have become increasingly desperate.
Many prefer to take the dangerous route through the Amazons of South America and the Mediterranean sea in an effort to escape Cameroon and find solace in America and Europe.
Youths who graduate from universities each year turn back to menial jobs, some of which barely pay them the minimum wage of 41,000 CFA francs.
Under Biya’s rule, poverty has risen drastically, with an estimated 37.7 percent of citizens living on less than 1,000 CFA francs daily, according to the National Institute of Statistics report published on April 30, 2024.
According to the report, nearly 4 out of 10 people live below the poverty line, approximately 10.1 million Cameroonians.
With statistics like this, many have been quick to question why youths who are among the worst affected would want a regime where most top-ranking government officials are above 60 to continue ruling after 42 years.
What Biya Has Done for Youths
In 2017, the government secured a loan from the Chinese Exim Bank to purchase 500,000 laptops for university students.
However, the distribution fell short, failing to reach every registered student. Many of the laptops faced technical issues, and some even ended up being resold in markets.
Additionally, Biya had instituted an annual grant of 50,000 CFA francs for students with high GPAs to encourage excellence.
Yet, at the University of Buea, the grant is now restricted to students under 25 years old.
Beyond these initiatives, Cameroonian universities continue to produce graduates many of whose qualifications often fail to meet job market demands. Youth unemployment rises daily.
The youths who attended the meeting at the presidency represent only a small fraction of students and do not speak for the entire population.
Are Universities Truly Apolitical?
Though universities are supposed to be neutral grounds, they appear increasingly politicized as Cameroon approaches its October 12 elections.
Following the meeting at the presidency, many critics dismissed the attending youths as “brainwashed.”
“That’s why they’ll always remain jobless,” one commenter remarked.
Others accused the students of acting out of self-interest, with one labeling them as “hungry.”
