Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, securing an eighth term in office with 53.7% of the vote.
However, his main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has rejected the results, calling them a “masquerade” and claiming he won the election unequivocally with 54.8% of the votes.
Tchiroma, who came second in the election with 35.2% of the vote, had previously claimed victory and called for demonstrations, which turned deadly in several cities, including Garoua and Douala.
Security forces used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters, resulting in at least six deaths.
The opposition’s rejection of the election results has raised concerns about the country’s stability, with analysts predicting further unrest.
The election was marked by allegations of irregularities, and the government’s response to the protests has been criticized.
