Shock in Cameroon: Voters Allegedly Paid With Juice and $5 to Support 92-Year-Old Paul Biya”

A viral video has stirred outrage across social media, showing Cameroonian voters allegedly receiving a bottle of juice and under $5 in exchange for casting their votes for 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for over four decades.

Shared by user @Joe__Bassey, the footage captures both men and women standing in line to collect the items just before voting. Biya, widely criticized as a “French puppet,” has led Cameroon since 1982.

Reactions online reflect a mix of frustration, embarrassment, and anger:

• “How can African countries support each other to get rid of the likes of Tinubu, Biya, and Ruto?” — @ladi_etti

• “This is why they love democracy. So they can weaponize poverty to keep evil puppets in power.” — @RolandNGabriel

• “I hide such videos from my colleagues here in the US. It gives racists something to feed on.” — @nellycentz

Critics say the incident exposes how entrenched poverty continues to be used as a political tool to suppress genuine democratic change across parts of Africa.