President Paul Biya has been officially re-elected for an eighth term, securing 53.66 % of the vote in Cameroon’s October 12 presidential election, according to the Constitutional Council.
The announcement has stirred widespread unrest across the country, with opposition supporters rejecting the result and accusing authorities of orchestrating fraud.
At least four protesters were killed in clashes with security forces ahead of the result being confirmed.
Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally of Biya, declared himself the winner ahead of the official outcome, citing his own internal tally of 54.8 % and calling the official process a “masquerade.”
He posted on social media after the official result: “Shooting point-blank at your own brothers – I can’t help but wonder if you’re mercenaries.”
Biya, who has helmed the country since 1982 and removed presidential term limits in 2008, is now set to extend his rule potentially into his late 90s.
His long tenure has drawn criticism for stifling democratic development, particularly amid humanitarian crises in the Anglophone regions and security threats in the north.
Security forces are deployed in major cities including Douala, Garoua and Yaoundé, where internet disruptions were reported and gatherings were banned.
The government said the declaration of results signals continuity and stability; the opposition insists the people’s will has been ignored.
Analysts warn that with high youth unemployment, deep economic unease and lingering conflict, the election outcome could deepen social fractures unless meaningful reforms are undertaken. Whether Biya’s new term will bring change or further entrenchment of the status-quo remains a critical question for Cameroon’s future.
