- Cameroon's longest serving President, Paul Biya, has sounded the bell to amend the constitution to enable him run for yet another elections.
Biya, who has been in power for 25 years, wants to run for the 2011 elections. Intoxicated with power, perhaps the Cameroonian leader wants to emulate the Gabon's Omar Bongo Odimba who had recently celebrated 40 years in power.
The disclosure was contained in the President's end of year speech. Biya believed that a constitutional amendment would be in tandem with Cameroonians' desire to see him back in office after his current mandate expires three years later.
Cameroonian constitution limits presidents to two-seven year terms. President Biya is opposed to this provision, arguing that it contradicts "our democratic options."
Civil liberty groups joined the opposition to cast aspersion on the Cameroonian leader, accusing him of trying to entrench himself in power.
Biya, formerly a Prime Minister, ascended to power in 1982, replacing President Amadou Ahidjo to the throne. He was elected President in 1992, amid wider claims of voter rigging by his opponents.
After his re-election in 1997, Biya's government extended the presidential term from five to seven years.
With 152 of the 180 parliamentary seats controlled by the governing Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People, the constitution would be amended in Biya's favour.
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