Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the Cameroonian opposition leader, has declared himself the winner of the 12 October presidential election and called on the incumbent, Paul Biya, to accept the end of his 43-year rule. In a video statement on Facebook, Tchiroma said: 'Our victory is clear, it must be respected.' He directly addressed the 92-year-old Biya, urging him to make 'that phone call of congratulations'.
The country's electoral commission, Elecam, has not yet released the results, which are expected by 26 October after validation by the constitutional council. Supporters on both sides are citing images on social media of tally sheets from polling stations, but it is illegal to announce the overall result before the constitutional council. The territorial administration minister warned that this was a 'red line that must not be crossed'.
The election, contested by nine opposition candidates, was a single-round contest. More than 8 million citizens were eligible to vote, but turnout remains unknown. Some candidates have already congratulated Tchiroma. This echoes 2018, when opposition challenger Maurice Kamto declared victory and was subsequently arrested; his supporters faced teargas and detention.
Tchiroma, 76, a longtime Biya ally and former government spokesperson, broke ranks in June to emerge as the leading opposition candidate. He heads the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) and is backed by a coalition of parties. His manifesto promised a three- to five-year transition to rebuild the country, which he said Biya had destroyed.
Biya has ruled Cameroon with an iron fist since 1982, repressing opposition and separatist violence. He has governed partly from Switzerland, where he and his wife are regular visitors. Reports suggest presidential decrees are often signed by the secretary general of the presidency. Tchiroma said that in two decades as minister, he never met Biya face-to-face.
