Public health minister Manaouda Malachi has said 91-year-old President Paul Biya is the candidate of the Cameroonian youths in the upcoming presidential elections.
He declared this in a post on X, formerly Twitter, shortly after President Paul Biya addressed the Cameroonian nation in his traditional end-of-year speech.
The debate on Biya seeking another mandate has raised concerns amongst Cameroonians.
While his supporters are calling on him to seek another mandate, critics say he is too old to continue to preside over the destiny of the Cameroon nation.
Mr. Biya is the world’s oldest president and has been head of state for 42 years and counting. He has not shown any signs of stepping down.
Among those wanting him to continue is the public health minister, who insinuates that President Paul Biya is a candidate for the young people. He had organised a rally in Mokolo, Far North Region, in May 2023, during which he claimed that the youths of the region appealed for his candidacy in the 2025 polls.
“It is time for the best strategies to ensure a brilliant victory in 2025 for our candidate, who has just responded positively to the Appeal of the Youth of May 17, 2023, in Mokolo,” Manaouda Malachi said in a post on X three hours after President Biya’s address to the nation.
Calling on supporters to begin ‘serious’ mobilisation, he referred to the 91-year-old as a “candidate of conscious and dynamic youth!”
The declaration of the public health minister contradicts growing calls from some Cameroonians, including church leaders, for Mr. Biya to step down.
Amongst those who have openly called on Biya to step down are the Samuel Kleda Archbishop of Douala, Emmanuel Abbo, Bishop of Ngaoundere, and Yaouda Hourgo, Bishop of Yagoua.
