Agency Report
Cameroon’s long-serving President, Paul Biya, has been re-elected for an eighth consecutive term, extending his more than four-decade rule after securing 53.7 per cent of the vote, according to official results released on Monday by the country’s Constitutional Council.
Biya, who is 92 years old and already one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving heads of state, defeated his main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister, who garnered 35.2 per cent.
The results followed a tense election held on October 12, marred by allegations of irregularities and violent street protests in parts of the country.
Protests Erupt as Opposition Rejects Results
Tchiroma, who had earlier claimed victory based on his campaign’s internal tally, called for mass demonstrations after the announcement, insisting that Biya’s victory was the product of widespread electoral manipulation.
At least four people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in the economic capital, Douala, on Sunday. Local officials confirmed that security personnel initially used tear gas to disperse demonstrators before resorting to live ammunition.
“We are defending our victory and our democracy,” one protester told AFP, describing a heavy-handed police response.
Critics Decry ‘System Built to Perpetuate Power’
Political analysts say Biya’s victory was largely expected in a political system that has remained tightly controlled for decades. Opposition parties have long accused the government of manipulating electoral processes through state institutions and media dominance.
Since first assuming power in 1982, Biya has presided over a nation fraught with economic inequality, separatist violence in the Anglophone regions, and periodic political unrest. Despite growing domestic and international criticism, he has maintained a firm grip on power through constitutional amendments, patronage networks, and the loyalty of the military elite.
A Divided Nation Faces Uncertain Future
Cameroon, a bilingual Central African nation of about 28 million people, continues to struggle with deep social divisions, especially between its English-speaking minority regions and the predominantly French-speaking government.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused Biya’s administration of using repressive tactics to silence dissent and suppress pro-independence movements in the North-West and South-West regions.
Observers warn that the president’s latest victory could further entrench political polarisation and deepen the sense of disenfranchisement among younger voters seeking democratic reform.
Despite the unrest, the Constitutional Council declared the election results “final and irrevocable,” paving the way for Biya to extend his rule into a 43rd year, a record that places him among the world’s longest-serving leaders, alongside
AFP