By :Kenneth Appiah Bani
Tensions have flared in Cameroon following the announcement of President Paul Biya’s re-election, with at least four people confirmed dead after violent clashes between opposition supporters and security forces.
According to reports, the unrest erupted on Sunday after the Constitutional Council declared the 92-year-old Biya winner of the October 12 presidential election. The council’s declaration sparked outrage among supporters of opposition leader Issa Tchiroma, who rejected the results and called for what he described as “a national movement to defend the people’s choice.”
Despite a government ban on public gatherings, large crowds took to the streets of Yaoundé, Douala, and other major cities, demanding that the results be annulled. Security forces responded with tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters, resulting in multiple casualties and several arrests.
Tchiroma insists he won 54.8 percent of the total vote and accuses the ruling government of “gross electoral fraud and manipulation.” “The people of Cameroon voted for change, not continuity,” he said during a press briefing. “We cannot accept this stolen victory.”
President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, was declared winner with 53.66 percent of the vote, securing his eighth consecutive term in office. The result extends his more than four-decade rule until at least 2032.
Government officials have urged calm and dismissed the opposition’s claims as “baseless,” emphasizing that the election was conducted “in full transparency.”
International observers, however, have raised concerns over the credibility of the poll, citing reports of irregularities, intimidation, and restricted access for independent monitors in some regions.
As tensions rise, religious and civil society leaders have called for dialogue to prevent further bloodshed. “No matter the violence, this result will never change,” one senior government source said. “What we need now is peace and stability for our country.”
Meanwhile, many Cameroonians are taking to social media to express grief and call for calm, urging the international community to intervene and ensure justice.
For now, the streets of Yaoundé remain heavily guarded as security forces patrol key areas to prevent further demonstrations.
The world watches closely as Cameroon faces one of its most turbulent post-election moments in decades a stark reminder of the deep divisions and growing demand for political reform in the Central African nation.
