Cameroon election results spark outrage as 92-year-old Biya clings to power amid bloodshed.
The Cameroon election results have triggered a wave of violence across the nation after 92-year-old President Paul Biya was declared the winner of a contested vote that has left several people dead and dozens detained.
Cameroon’s Constitutional Council announced Monday that President Paul Biya secured 53.66 percent of the vote in the October 12 election, defeating opposition challenger Issa Tchiroma, who received 35.19 percent.
This victory extends Biya’s grip on power to an unprecedented 50 years; he’s been running the country since 1982.
“Hereby proclaimed president-elect: the candidate Biya Paul,” declared Clement Atangana, head of the Constitutional Council.
But the Cameroon election results didn’t come quietly. Before the official announcement, Tchiroma had already claimed victory based on numbers his party collected. Biya quickly shot down those claims.
Violence erupts in major cities
The situation turned deadly Sunday when at least four people were killed in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city, as security forces clashed with protesters demanding credible results.
The unrest has spread like wildfire to multiple cities, including the capital, Yaounde, with reports indicating at least 30 activists have been detained.
After the official Cameroon election results were announced, Tchiroma took to Facebook, claiming gunfire was being directed at civilians gathered outside his home in Garoua, a northern city.
“Toll of their attack: two dead,” he wrote in a chilling post. “Shooting point-blank at your own brothers—I can’t help but wonder if you’re mercenaries. Kill me if you want, but I will liberate this country by any means necessary.” The authorities have stayed silent on these allegations.
Paul Biya has maintained an iron grip on Cameroon since taking office 43 years ago. In 2008, he eliminated presidential term limits, clearing his path to win re-election by comfortable margins ever since.
This new seven-year term could keep the world’s longest-serving ruler in power until he’s nearly 100 years old.
Desmond Ngala, head of Civic Watch Cameroon, told reporters the Cameroon election results were “more or less expected,” adding there are real fears the country could be “paralyzed” if the unrest continues.
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Opposition cries foul over delayed Cameroon election results
The delay in announcing the Cameroon election results has only fueled opposition suspicions. Protesters have been clashing with security forces for over a week after partial results from local media showed Biya heading toward victory.
Tchiroma, a former government spokesperson and minister in his late 70s, ran a campaign that drew massive crowds and secured endorsements from a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.
His supporters believed this election could finally break Biya’s decades-long hold on power.
However, Biya and his ruling party have dismissed all claims of election interference, maintaining the process was fair and transparent.
What happens next?
With tensions running high and casualties mounting, many Cameroonians are asking what comes next.
The violence shows no signs of stopping, and opposition leaders continue to challenge the legitimacy of the Cameroon election results.
As one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders prepares for another seven years in office, the question remains: how long can this situation hold before something breaks?
The international community is watching closely as Cameroon teeters on the edge of a political crisis that could reshape the nation’s future.
