Cameroon’s 92-year-old president wins controversial eighth term

Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, has won a controversial eighth term in office, extending his decades-long rule over the Central African nation.

The Constitutional Council declared Mr Biya the winner with 53.7% of the vote, while his main rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, took 35.2%.

The result followed days of tension and deadly unrest in the wake of the 12 October election, which the opposition and several observers said was marred by irregularities and violence.

Before the official results were announced, Mr Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally of Mr Biya, had insisted he was the true winner. His party accused the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of orchestrating a “massive fraud” to cling to power — a claim the CPDM has firmly denied.

In a brief statement after his victory was confirmed, President Biya thanked Cameroonians for their continued trust.

“I sincerely hope that, together, we resolutely undertake to build a peaceful, united and prosperous Cameroon,” he said.

But the mood on the streets tells a different story.

At least four people were killed on Sunday in the economic capital, Douala, after protesters clashed with security forces. Regional governor Samuel Dieudonné Diboua said police stations had come under attack and that officers had “defended themselves”.

Unrest also spread to the northern city of Garoua, where a local journalist told the BBC that several people were shot dead near Mr Tchiroma Bakary’s residence on Monday.

In a Facebook post, the opposition leader said snipers had been stationed in a building across from his home and were “firing at point-blank range at civilians”. Authorities have not yet commented on these claims.

In the capital, Yaoundé, tension remains high. Most shops and schools are closed, and civil servants have stayed home amid fears of further violence.

Protesters say they are determined to resist what they call a “stolen victory”, as international observers urge calm and transparency in resolving the dispute.