YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) 鈥 John Fru Ndi, the leader of Cameroon鈥檚 opposition Social Democratic Front and one of the party鈥檚 founders, has died after a prolonged illness. He was 81.
The party said Fru Ndi, who had been battling health issues for months, died late on Monday at his residence in the capital, Yaounde, a month ahead of his 82nd birthday in July.
鈥淚t is with sadness that we announce the transition into eternal glory of the 好色tv Chairman of the (party),鈥 Joshua Osh, the party's vice president, said on Tuesday.
An influential figure, Fru Ndi was one of the founders of the Social Democratic Front in 1990 and a prominent opponent of Cameroon鈥檚 longtime President Paul Biya.
He went up against Biya in three elections 鈥 losing each one 鈥 and more recently, became a strong critic of the president's handling of the country鈥檚 crisis following the 2017 rebellion of English-speaking separatists.
Last November, Biya marked 40 years in power 鈥 the only president most of the Central African country鈥檚 people have ever known. He is Africa鈥檚 second-longest serving leader: The president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been in power since 1979.
Cameroon has been plagued by fighting since the English-speaking separatists launched the rebellion five years ago, seeking to break away from the area dominated by the French-speaking majority and establishing an independent, English-speaking state.
In 2018, Fru Ndi was abducted twice by the separatists and released after each abduction. After his last release, he urged the separatists to abandon their aspirations, saying that separation was not a solution to the country's crisis.
Following the announcement of his death, friends and colleagues described Fru Ndi as a true crusader and a strong contributor to Cameroon.
鈥淭he foundation on which we stood is gone, but the happiness is that he built a solid foundation,鈥 said Yvonne Muma Bih, one of his aides.
Preparations for the burial were underway.
