Cameroon’s long-serving leader, Paul Biya, has been declared the winner of the October 12 presidential election, securing an eighth term in office and extending his rule to more than four decades. The 92-year-old president’s victory further cements his place as one of Africa’s longest-serving and oldest leaders.
The Constitutional Council announced on Monday that Biya won with 53.66 percent of the vote, defeating his main challenger and former ally Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who garnered 35.19 percent. “Hereby declared elected President of the Republic, having obtained the majority of the votes cast, the candidate, Biya, Paul,” said Clement Atangana, president of the Constitutional Council, during the official declaration.
Biya’s re-election is set to extend his rule until 2032, at which point he will be 100 years old. His victory comes amid widespread allegations of vote manipulation and political intimidation, claims that have fueled public anger and heightened tensions across the country.
Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary rejected the official results, insisting that he was the rightful winner. His campaign released alternative figures claiming he had secured 54.8 percent of the vote. “We will not accept manipulated results,” his team warned ahead of the announcement, calling for nationwide demonstrations if Biya was declared the victor.
In the days leading up to the official declaration, protests erupted in major cities including Douala and Yaoundé. At least four people were killed in Douala on Sunday after clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Reports of arrests and violence also surfaced in Garoua, Bakary’s hometown, where videos shared online appeared to show police surrounding his home. Bakary later said on Facebook that the security presence was an attempt to arrest him.
Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement dismissed the opposition’s allegations, urging citizens to remain calm and to respect the legal process.
Biya first assumed power in 1982 and consolidated his control by scrapping presidential term limits in 2008. While his supporters credit him with maintaining stability, critics accuse him of suppressing dissent, curbing freedoms, and using state power to maintain his rule.
With the latest results, Biya’s presidency is now set to continue into its fifth decade — a reality that deepens political divisions and raises fresh questions about the future of democracy in Cameroon.
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