President Paul Biya, the world's oldest head of state, has set a date for long-delayed legislative and local elections in Cameroon. In a decree read on public radio on Monday, Biya announced that these polls will take place on February 7, 2023. The announcement comes at a tense time for the Central African nation, as authorities have been cracking down on opposition forces since last year's election that extended Biya's rule. Biya, who has led Cameroon since 1982, faces criticism from both within and outside the country over his government's handling of political dissent and the postponement of elections. The legislative and local elections were initially scheduled for October 2018 but have been delayed twice due to ongoing political instability. In addition to the elections, Cameroon is also awaiting a long-promised government reshuffle and the appointment of a vice president, as well as a constitutional reform that reintroduced the post of vice president earlier this year. Questions about Biya's health have swirled for some time, with frequent stays abroad fueling debate over his ability to govern effectively. The media has been banned from discussing the president's health since 2024, when rumors circulated about his death. In late August, Biya returned to Yaounde after more than two months in Geneva, prompting sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Last month, the authorities suspended the Cameroon National Salvation Front, the party of defeated opposition presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who went into exile in the Gambia after declaring himself the election winner and calling on supporters to defend his "victory."