Cameroon’s Paul Biya, 92, has launched a sweeping military reshuffle just days after announcing his bid for an eighth presidential term. The overhaul, affecting nearly every branch of the armed forces, includes new chiefs for the infantry, air force, and navy, alongside the promotion of eight brigadier generals to major generals. These moves are seen as an attempt to consolidate loyalty to Biya ahead of the October 12 election. One of the promotions was that of the commander of the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion, a cornerstone of Biya’s security apparatus. The decrees, released amid growing public unease over Biya’s age and ability to govern, are widely viewed as a strategy to suppress those who oppose his continued rule.
Reuters
