Cameroon elections set for February 7

Cameroonian President Paul Biya called legislative and local elections for February 7, according to a decree read on public radio on Monday.

The ballots would be the first since Biya, 93, was reelected last year in polls rejected by the opposition. The announcement follows two postponements of the legislative and local elections.

Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982. His reelection was followed by opposition demonstrations that authorities suppressed.

Cameroon is also awaiting a government reshuffle announced nearly a year ago and the appointment of a vice president, a post reintroduced by a constitutional reform in April. The vice president would be expected to succeed Biya in the event of his death.

Last month, authorities suspended the Cameroon National Salvation Front, the party of defeated opposition presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Bakary went into exile in the Gambia after declaring himself the winner of the presidential election and calling on supporters to defend his claimed victory.