Central African country of Cameroon is voting today for national legislature and local councils in the polls overshadowed by separatist violence and a partial opposition boycott. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in the separatist violence. Elections for the Legislature are taking place for the first time in seven years, after two postponements. Campaigning has been low key with few banners put up by the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement in the capital Yaounde.

The ruling party supports 86 year old President Paul Biya, one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders, who has ruled with a steely fist for 37 years.

The main opposition party, the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) is refusing to field a single candidate. Its leader, Maurice Kamto, spent nine months in jail after his defeat in 2018 Presidential elections and is now abroad.