At least four people were killed in Cameroon during violent protests by opposition supporters ahead of the announcement of highly contested presidential election results, with clashes between security forces and demonstrators escalating tensions in multiple cities. The incidents occurred as the country braced for the official declaration, expected to favor incumbent President Paul Biya amid allegations of electoral fraud.
The clashes erupted on Sunday in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, where regional governor Samuel Dieudonné Diboua confirmed four fatalities after protesters attacked police stations and a gendarmerie brigade. Security forces responded with tear gas and water cannons, leading to the deaths and injuries among both civilians and officers, with authorities describing the events as premeditated acts of violence and a serious threat to public order.
Protests were organized by supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who defied a government ban on public gatherings imposed until Monday’s results announcement. Tchiroma, a former communications minister, has insisted he won the October 12 presidential election with approximately 55% of the vote, challenging Biya’s 43-year rule and alleging widespread irregularities, including ballot-stuffing, though the constitutional council has dismissed such claims.
In Tchiroma’s northern stronghold of Garoua, hundreds of demonstrators gathered peacefully initially, carrying Cameroonian flags and banners reading ‘Tchiroma 2025’ while chanting slogans against Biya. However, the situation turned rowdy when security forces dispersed the crowds with tear gas, with protesters demanding the truth of the ballot and accusing the ruling party of planning to steal the victory.
Authorities, including Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji, condemned the protests as contributing to a security crisis and an insurrectionist project. Investigations have been opened into the deaths, and officials have threatened action against instigators, while Tchiroma claimed in a video that military personnel attempted to take him away, heightening fears of further repression.
Tchiroma’s dramatic shift from being a government spokesperson to a presidential candidate has intensified the political drama. After serving under Biya for years, including during crises like the Boko Haram insurgency, he resigned in June and positioned himself as the main opposition figure, capitalizing on discontent with Biya’s long tenure and the aging leader’s bid for an eighth term at age 92.
The constitutional council, whose judges are appointed by Biya, is set to announce official results on Monday, but Tchiroma has refused to file complaints with the body, citing bias. Instead, he has called for peaceful resistance and international attention, with his supporters in the diaspora also mobilizing, though the ruling CPDM party has dismissed his victory claims as illegal.
As the nation awaits the results, the ongoing tensions underscore deep-seated issues in Cameroon’s political landscape, including allegations of human rights abuses and democratic backsliding. The outcome could significantly impact the country’s stability, with concerns about further violence and calls for calm from institutions like the Catholic Church, while the international community watches closely for a transparent resolution to prevent escalation.