Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a prominent minister and long-time ally of President Paul Biya, has quit Cameroon’s government to challenge the 92-year-old leader in upcoming elections.
Tchiroma, who was communications minister and later employment minister, said the Biya administration had “broken” public trust and he was switching to a rival party.
In a 24-page manifesto, Tchiroma promised to dismantle “the old system” and offered to hold a referendum on devolving more power to Cameroon’s 10 provinces, a solution to the country’s Anglophone crisis.
He also criticized the government’s handling of dissent, citing the crackdown on opposition activities.
Tchiroma’s decision to run for president has received mixed reactions, with some seeing him as a potential leader who can bring change, while others view him as tainted by his long association with Biya.
The presidential election is scheduled for October, and rights groups have condemned the government’s crackdown on dissent.
Cameroon has been plagued by security issues, including a separatist insurgency in the English-speaking provinces and jihadist attacks in the northernmost region.
