YAOUNDÉ, Oct. 17 — Tensions flared in Cameroon after opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared victory in the October 12 presidential election, defying official procedures and prompting clashes with security forces.
Supporters of Tchiroma took to the streets in Douala and Garoua, where police used tear gas to disperse crowds. A ruling party office was set on fire in Douala, underscoring the volatility of the post-election atmosphere. Authorities confirmed multiple arrests.
President Paul Biya, 92, Africa’s longest-serving leader with more than four decades in power, is seeking an eighth term. The government dismissed Tchiroma’s self-proclaimed win as an attempt to destabilize the country, warning that only the Constitutional Council can announce results.
The unrest adds to Cameroon’s fragile political climate, already strained by separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions. With official results expected within 15 days, the competing claims of legitimacy have heightened fears of a broader crisis.
Yaounde, Cameroon Picture on pexel by -kelly
