Biya wins eighth term amid protests, death toll rises in Douala

Cameroon’s long-serving President, Paul Biya, 92, has secured another seven-year term in office after the Constitutional Council on Monday declared him winner of the October 12 presidential poll with 53.7 per cent of the votes.

A former minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, came second with 35.2 per cent. Tchiroma had earlier declared himself winner, claiming 54.8 per cent in his own tally, and urged supporters to “defend” what he called a stolen mandate.

Tension flared in the commercial city of Douala on Sunday as security forces moved to break up opposition demonstrations. The region’s governor confirmed that four people were killed in the clashes. Protesters told AFP that troops fired tear gas and later used live ammunition to disperse the crowds.

Since last week, supporters of Tchiroma have marched in defiance of the official count, insisting Biya’s victory was pre-arranged. Analysts had widely predicted the 92-year-old — the world’s oldest sitting head of state — would extend his rule in a system critics allege has been tightly controlled for decades.

Biya, who first took power in 1982, is only the second leader of Cameroon since independence in 1960. He is accused by opponents of crushing dissent, suppressing armed insurgencies, and clinging to authority through waves of political unrest, economic hardship and separatist conflict.