Cameron Issa Chairoma Bakari stops the “broken” government to challenge Paul Pia for the presidency

Issa Chiroma Bakari-a prominent minister and ally of President Paul Pia for a long time-left the Cameroon government, hoping to end the 92-year-old grip on power in the upcoming elections.

Just four months before the Central African State went to the polls, Bakary says that the BIYA administration was part of it “broken” the confidence of the public and turns into a competitive political party.

“It is not possible to find a country in the service of one man,” said Chiroma on Wednesday.

While the Minister of Communications was significantly subjected to a significantly for him Deny – then Retreat On his denial – that the Cameroonian soldiers killed women and children in a viral video BBC Africa has been achieved.

His other roles include in nearly two decades in the government to be a spokesperson for the BYA government, and until his resignation on Tuesday, he was Minister of Employment.

Paul Pia – the oldest head of state in the world – has not yet confirmed whether he would return to the president for the seventh time. Last year, the country banned reports on the health of the president After rumors that he died.

With these elections approaching, high unemployment rates and high living costs are a source of concern for many Cameroon, as well as corruption And security. The separatist rebellion in English -speaking provinces, as well as jihadists working in the far north of the region, forced thousands of Cameroon from their homes in the past decade.

The cracks were detonated in Bakary’s relationship with President BIYA earlier this month, when he told the crowds in his city that Biya’s time in power did not benefit from it in any way.

Bakari continued this criticism in a 24 -page statement issued a day after his resignation, and promised to dismantle the “old system” so that Cameroon could overcome “ill -treatment, contempt and confiscation of power.”

One of its proposed solutions is federal – it offers a referendum on the transfer of more power to the ten Cameroon provinces. This has been launched a long time ago by many as a solution to The so -called Angelovon crisis in the country.

Specifically, the English -speaking Cameroon processing, he said, “You do not need people to speak on your behalf – you must listen to” and that “centralization has failed.”

Bakari also used his statement to say that Cameroon “has been ruled decades ago by the same vision and the same system. This model, which was long presented as a protection from stability, gradually suffocating, paralyzing our institutions, and breaking the bond of trust between the state and its citizens.”

As the presidential elections approached in October, rights groups condemned the government’s campaign against the opposition.

Soon after Bakary announced his plans to run for the presidency, According to what was reported, the government announced a ban on all political activities by the National Front for Survival of Cameroon (CNSF) in a sub -area in the northern Al -Aqsa region – Part of the country is said to be an influential power medium.

Weeks ago, Maurice Kamto, his presidential colleague, was reduced in his movements during a two -day policelab. Promising supporters in a gathering in Paris that he will protect me and his family If he wins in October.

The parliamentary elections, which were supposed to take place earlier this year until 2026.

The reaction was mixed with the presidential Bakary offer – some believe it is skilled.

“By placing himself as a great statesman in a country” he saw the fire coming, “Cameroon’s analyst and broadcaster Guls Dumchy told the BBC.

“From the economic repercussions to the unemployment of youth, insecurity, and the increasing turmoil in the northwest, southwest, and northern Al -Aqsa (regions), Cameroon is mature to change.”

The voices of the opposition – some want to support Bakary Kamto, who was 14 % runner -up in 2018. But others say Bakary is contaminated through its long association with BIYA.

“He cannot embody change … he was part of the regime for a long time. Young people do not trust him,” says Abdulay Harriso, a legal notary and a prominent critic who was holding the government.

“We don’t see Cheroma the possible winner,” said another opposition member – Jean -Michel Nincio of the APC alliance – simply.