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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Cameroon's Biya should retire, says opposition |
| 2011-02-15 |
| [The Nation (Nairobi)] An opposition party called on Cameroon's longtime leader Paul Biya yesterday not to run for another term in the presidential elections scheduled for October. After 29 years as president, Biya "should leave political life and enjoy a peaceful retirement," the opposition African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) said in a statement. Cameroon's 78-year-old president, who celebrated his birthday Sunday, has not yet said whether he will run again. In power since 1982, Biya benefited from a 2008 amendment to the constitution scrapping term limits. Protests against the measure sparked riots that killed 40 people according to official estimates and 139 according to NGOs. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Cameroon lost some 2.8 billion euros ($3.75 billion) in state revenue between 1998 and 2004 through corruption, according to an official report seen by AFP. Illegal forestry in particular was responsible for losses averaging some 152 million euros a year, the National Anti-Corruption Commission report said, quoting an investigation by environmental groups including Greenpeace and Forest Monitor. Cameroon is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. |
| Posted by:Fred |