Cameroon’s opposition has formally rejected the presidential election results declaring Paul Biya, aged 92, the winner of a new seven-year term, accusing the vote of being marred by fraud and manipulation.
According to the Constitutional Council, Biya secured over 53% of the vote, a figure strongly contested by opposition leaders as protests erupted across the country.
Violent clashes broke out between opposition supporters and security forces in several cities, particularly in the commercial capital Douala, where demonstrators burned tires and blocked major roads. The opposition reported at least six people killed in the unrest.
Prominent opposition figures described the election as “a sham”, accusing the Constitutional Council of acting as a “rubber stamp for tyranny.” They also questioned the implausibly high voter turnout reported in English-speaking regions, which have faced a long-running separatist conflict.
In response to the escalating situation, the European Union voiced “deep concern” over the violent suppression of protests, urging authorities to investigate the excessive use of force and calling on Cameroonian leaders to engage in dialogue to maintain stability in the oil- and cocoa-producing nation.
