Cameroon remains on edge as citizens anxiously await the official announcement of the presidential election results by the Constitutional Council. The vote, which could extend President Paul Biya’s decades-long rule, has sparked mounting tension across the country, with deadly clashes erupting in major cities.
The 92-year-old Biya, Africa’s longest-serving leader, is seeking an eighth consecutive term after more than four decades in power. His government has maintained that the election process was peaceful and transparent, despite reports of irregularities and low voter turnout in some regions.
However, the political atmosphere turned volatile over the weekend when opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared himself the winner ahead of the official results. Bakary, who leads the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress (NADP), alleged that the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) manipulated the vote count to keep Biya in office. His declaration has deepened political uncertainty in a nation already facing social and economic strains.
Tensions reached a boiling point on Sunday in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city and economic hub, where protests broke out as opposition supporters demanded “the real results.” Security forces responded with tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds. According to local media reports, at least four people were killed and several others injured during the confrontations.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as demonstrators clashed with riot police in the streets. “People were shouting for change, waving flags, and calling for Biya to step down,” said one resident who witnessed the violence. “Then the soldiers came, and everything turned violent very quickly.”
The government has condemned the protests, calling them “acts of insurrection,” and warned against any attempt to undermine national stability. Meanwhile, international observers have urged calm and transparency as the Constitutional Council reviews the election results.
Cameroon’s political crisis comes amid growing frustration over the country’s economic challenges and lingering conflicts in the Anglophone regions, where separatist tensions continue to simmer.
As the nation waits for the official announcement, uncertainty hangs over the streets of Yaoundé, Douala, and beyond. For many Cameroonians, this election represents not just a contest for power, but a pivotal moment that could determine the future of the country’s democracy.
Whether Paul Biya will extend his 42-year rule or the opposition will force a political shift remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: Cameroon stands at a critical crossroads.
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