After losing in the October presidential election, Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, led a small rally against the long-serving President Paul Biya. The rally is costing Kamto after it was broken up by gun fire and wounding six people. These weren’t the last of the anti-biya protest. Many have had to be put down across the country by security services. This protest came with severe consequences for Kamto. He has been charged in a military court with rebellion and seven other offences, some that could potentially lead to the death penalty. A source told reporters that the charges include, “hostility against the homeland, incitement to insurrection, offense against the president of the republic, destruction of public buildings and goods.” Biya has ruled the central African cocoa and oil exports for 36-years and has been accused of silencing opposition voices throughout his time spent in this position of power. The U.S has agreed to withhold military aid over allegations of human rights violations while France continues to lend a helping hand. With Senegal’s upcoming elections, a video was released of Senegal’s President Macky Sall being described as an innovator and entrepreneur. He drew attention to the almost $17 billion development program he hopes will win him votes. Since Sall was elected in 2012 the economic growth rate for the country has risen more than six percent, one of Africa’s biggest increase. Sall has decided he will pay for the program by borrowing from international markets such as China. The main question still stands as to if Senegal has bitten off more than it can chew by overspending. Many Senegalese question whether building projects such as a shiny new conference center will benefit the average citizen as much as it will benefit Senegal’s tiny elite. The average income of Senegal’s 15 million people population, only make $200 a month, give or take. Due to Sall’s improvements to the country such as providing electricity to poorer villages, he is expected to win re-election.
