This is one of the records of longevity in power of a head of state.

Two generations of Cameroonians were born under the presidency of Paul Biya who celebrates, Sunday, November 6, 40 years of unchallenged reign that some in Cameroon would like to see end while fearing the instability that would follow.

At 89 and in fragile health, the "sphinx" is - monarchies excepted - the second longest-lived head of state in the world still in power, behind his neighbor from Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (more than 43 years old). ).

When he started, he promised to place his mandate under the sign of "Renewal".

But in this vast country of Central Africa, a fringe of the under 40s still hope, after seven re-elections.

"When I was little, it seemed normal to me to see Paul Biya president, it was like a king for me. Growing up, I discovered the principle of elections", laughs Paul Bopda, 18, a biology student. at Yaoundé I University, the oldest in Cameroon, which has 72,000 students.

For many young Cameroonians, democratic alternation remains at best an abstract idea and at worst a dead end: "I do not believe in political change but, at his age, it should leave room for young people", says his comrade Angela, 18 years old.

“We can no longer eat well,” she laments, citing inflation in the prices of essential goods.

First economic power in Central Africa 

Despite its considerable resources, the leading economic power in Central Africa has more than 8 million poor people out of some 25 million inhabitants.

It has remained stuck in the lower bracket of the World Bank's middle-income countries for many years, despite repeated government promises to improve this ranking.

In the aisles of the Yaoundé central market "business is slowing down", testifies Christelle, 30, saleswoman in an electronics shop, who says she earns 50,000 CFA francs per month (76 euros).

"We need alternation, we cannot have known a single president at 30," adds the young woman.

For other traders, the head of state cannot be accused of all evils.

"He's a dad but he can't be everywhere," said Daniel Hector Ebaa, pointing to a roof strewn with rubbish: "Look at this trash can, it's not Biya's fault, it's society that must take charge", assures this 43-year-old father.

Longevity in power can also prove to be a guarantee of stability, "especially when we compare our situation to that of neighboring countries", Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic... notes a 37-year-old demographer at the Ministry of Planning , citing his "duty of reserve" to remain anonymous.

For civil servants, "we can't say that everything is black, there are things to improve", she underlines, calling for an increase in salaries and a "sanitation of governance".

She says she earns 210,000 CFA francs per month (320 euros).

Two bloody conflicts 

Cameroon is also facing two bloody conflicts, against the jihadists in the far north and against the armed separatists in the west populated by the English-speaking minority.

There, the army and the separatists are accused of committing crimes against civilians by NGOs and the UN.

This conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced more than a million people in less than six years, according to the International Crisis Group.

"Paul Biya had the opportunity to resolve the Anglophone crisis without the slightest loss of human life, but he only adopted facade measures, with bad faith", estimates Kevin Teboh Tekang, 33, teacher in a college of Buea, in the English-speaking area.

“Most of the young Anglophones are still in Cameroon not out of patriotism, but because of poverty because they cannot afford to leave the country,” he regrets.

The demographer at the Ministry of Planning fears a "succession" and a plunge into an "instability which could make us lose a generation, while young people are the spearhead of the Nation".

On the campus of the University of Yaoundé, Durand Djomou, a 19-year-old biology student, cannot even imagine the future without Paul Biya.

"What is certain is that with another person, you don't know what could happen and it could be even worse," he says.

With AFP

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