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Cameroon’s opposition leader has vowed to keep resisting President Paul Biya “until the final victory,” urging his supporters to stay mobilised as reports emerged of deaths and mass arrests following protests across several cities.
Biya, aged 92 and the world’s oldest serving head of state, has ruled Cameroon since 1982. His latest victory in the October 12 election — officially declared on Monday — has further inflamed tensions in the cocoa- and oil-producing nation, where many accuse him of manipulating state institutions to maintain his grip on power.
By Wednesday morning, supporters of Issa Tchiroma Bakary — a former government spokesperson turned Biya opponent — returned to the streets of Douala, the country’s economic hub. The city bore scars of unrest, with debris and smouldering tyres still scattered across major roads after days of violent clashes.
According to a civil society group known as Stand Up for Cameroon, which held a press briefing on Wednesday, at least 23 people have been killed since the weekend as security forces cracked down on demonstrators. Reuters said it could not independently verify the figures, and a government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Election results deemed final.
Elsewhere in Douala, businesses cautiously began reopening after days of closure, though the usually busy streets remained subdued and traffic light.
“The truth of the ballot is clear. We won this election by a large majority. This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to the Cameroonian people,” Tchiroma declared late on Tuesday during his first public address since the Constitutional Council confirmed Biya’s win. “We remain united, mobilised and will continue to resist until the final victory.”
Under Cameroonian law, the council’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed. Other opposition figures have alleged widespread electoral fraud — accusations the government has firmly denied.
Minister blames Tchiroma for unrest.
Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji accused Tchiroma of instigating the violence by prematurely declaring victory on October 13.
“This irresponsible candidate, driven by the desire to push through the plot to disrupt public order, issued repeated calls on social media inciting civil unrest,” Nji said in a statement.
He alleged that small groups of demonstrators, “often under the influence of drugs,” looted shops and torched public buildings, though he offered no evidence to support the drug claims.
Stand Up for Cameroon also reported that detained protesters were being held under “inhumane” conditions. “The lawyers’ testimonies describe swollen faces, bruises, and humiliating treatment inflicted on citizens who sought to exercise their constitutional rights,” the group said in a statement.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show security forces loading an unresponsive body onto a military truck. In another video, protesters could be heard chanting, “Give back the corpse.” Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the recordings, and security officials referred all inquiries to the government.
In Douala, where much of the violence has been concentrated, Nji said both public and private properties had been vandalised, while several security personnel were injured and “attackers” killed in confrontations.
The regional governor told reporters on Tuesday that more than 200 people had been arrested in connection with the unrest.
