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| Paul Biya, Cameroon president. |
Ahead of the celebrations on Sunday to celebrate President Paul Biya's 40 years in office, the Cameroonian leader and his supporters are conducting activities this week.
The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) reportedly sent party leaders to towns and villages on Thursday to organise conferences and rally additional support for Mr. Biya.
The nation of Cameroon celebrated Mr Biya's 89th birthday in February, making him Africa's oldest and second-longest-serving leader behind Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, who has been in office since 1979. Due to Mr Biya's residence in Switzerland, these festivities were held virtually.
Mr Biya became president in 1982, taking over from Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahijo. Mr Biya had previously served as prime minister since 1975. Since 1992, he has won all multiparty elections despite accusations of heavy election rigging from opposition parties.
In 2007, Mr Biya announced his intent to eliminate the two-term limit. In February 2008, protests were held against his decision, and hundreds of protesters were killed, and thousands were arrested.
In 2008, the constitutional revision was voted on by the National Assembly, and in 2011, Mr Biya was reelected with 78 per cent of the vote.