Around the same time, the AU put out a similar message congratulating another longtime incumbent, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, who—like Biya—has repeatedly changed his country’s constitution and electoral rules, allowing himself to stay in power since 2010. In last month’s election, Ouattara racked up an official tally of more than 90 percent of the vote, but only after barring top opposition candidates from the race.

When Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, declared victory recently in his eighth election, the African Union issued a blandly worded statement of congratulations, largely passing over credible claims of irregularities and making no mention of the way that Biya has hollowed out democracy by clinging to power for more than 40 years.

When Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, declared victory recently in his eighth election, the African Union issued a blandly worded statement of congratulations, largely passing over credible claims of irregularities and making no mention of the way that Biya has hollowed out democracy by clinging to power for more than 40 years.

Around the same time, the AU put out a similar message congratulating another longtime incumbent, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, who—like Biya—has repeatedly changed his country’s constitution and electoral rules, allowing himself to stay in power since 2010. In last month’s election, Ouattara racked up an official tally of more than 90 percent of the vote, but only a