Cameroon’s long-serving leader, Paul Biya, 92, has been declared the winner of the October 12 election, extending his rule to nearly half a century. The result sparked protests, opposition outrage, and international calls for restraint amid rising tension over the country’s democratic future.
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has declared 92-year-old President Paul Biya the winner of the October 12 presidential election, extending his 43-year rule for another seven years. Official results announced Monday showed Biya securing 53.66% of the vote, ahead of his former ally turned rival Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who earned 35.19% but rejected the outcome as fraudulent.
Bakary called for mass protests, which quickly turned violent in several cities. According to the Associated Press and BBC Africa, at least four people were killed and more than 100 arrested during clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Douala, Garoua, and Yaoundé.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera and Reuters showed police firing tear gas and live rounds to disperse crowds defying protest bans. Opposition supporters accused the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of ballot manipulation, voter intimidation, and widespread irregularities.
Clement Atangana, president of the Constitutional Council, declared Biya “President-elect,” calling the results final and unappealable. In a televised address, Bakary vowed to “contest the fraud through all legal means,” alleging massive falsification. Political analyst Mathias Owona Nguini told Africanews the outcome “reflects the state’s institutional inertia more than genuine electoral choice.”
On social media, frustration ran high under the hashtag #43YearsEnough, as many Cameroonians expressed exhaustion over Biya’s decades-long rule. Supporters of the CPDM celebrated the win as proof of “stability,” while critics decried what they called democratic decay.
The African Union urged calm and respect for constitutional order, while ECOWAS called for inclusive dialogue to preserve national unity. France’s foreign ministry said it was “monitoring developments closely,” urging transparency and restraint from all sides.
Biya, who has ruled since 1982, has survived multiple political crises, economic downturns, and a prolonged separatist conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.
His government remains central to Central Africa’s stability, influencing CEMAC economic policy and regional counterterrorism efforts with Chad and Nigeria.
The Episcopal Conference of Cameroon reported irregularities during the vote, citing unclean voter rolls and relocated polling stations.
Analysts say the disputed election highlights growing fears of democratic backsliding across Central Africa. Leaders in Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville, and Gabon have similarly extended their rules through constitutional changes or contested polls, fueling regional concerns over governance and succession.
The opposition coalition led by Bakary’s Cameroon Rebirth Front has called for nationwide civil disobedience. Human rights groups are demanding an investigation into the deaths of protesters, while international observers from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie have yet to release their final report.
If Biya completes this term, he will remain in power until at least 2032—marking half a century at the helm and potentially serving until age 99.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
