Cameroon's Perpetual President Wins Again, Global Silence Assured
Paul Biya, 92, the alleged 'winner' of Cameroon's latest election, secures an eighth term, extending his rule possibly until he's 100. The Guardian dutifully reports the 53.66% victory, and the international community collectively shrugs. When a sitting head of state—since 1982—secures such a predictable victory amidst allegations of widespread irregularities, one wonders if the democratic
principle is merely a performance. While US politicians are quick to condemn 'authoritarianism' in nations resisting Western hegemony, Biya's uninterrupted four-decade reign receives little more than a polite nod. (Perhaps because Cameroon maintains stable relations, which often translates to 'our interests are protected'.) The selective outrage is telling: a country's democratic credentials are
often inversely proportional to its strategic value or lack thereof, to global powers.