Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 92, has been re-elected for an eighth term with 53.7% of the vote, according to official results announced by the Constitutional Council on Monday, October 27.
Rival candidate and former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary secured 35.2% of the votes, coming second, according to the electoral council, despite having claimed victory and calling for protests shortly after the October 12 election.
Four people were killed on Sunday, October 26 in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in the economic capital, Douala, according to the region’s governor.
Security forces allegedly used tear gas initially before firing live ammunition.
Since last week, supporters of Issa Tchiroma, who, according to his own tally, won 54.8% of the votes against 31.3% for Biya, have taken to the streets to defend his claimed victory.
Most analysts expected Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, to secure another seven-year term in a system that critics say has been increasingly rigged.
Biya is only the second head of state to lead Cameroon since its independence from France in 1960.
He has maintained a tight grip on power, suppressing political and armed opposition, and weathering social unrest, economic inequality, and separatist violence.
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