Paul Biya, the world's oldest serving head of state, has been declared the winner of Cameroon's presidential election, securing 53.66% of the vote according to the country's constitutional council. The 92-year-old, who has been in power since 1982, will now serve an eighth term, potentially remaining in office until he is nearly 100.
His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally, received 35.19% of the vote. Tchiroma immediately rejected the result, calling it a 'masquerade' and claiming he had won unequivocally. He had declared victory two days after the election on 12 October, citing his own tally of 54.8% of the vote.
The election period has been tense, with a ban on public gatherings in effect since polling day and many businesses closed due to fears of unrest. Internet restrictions have been reported in Douala, the economic capital, which the state operator Camtel attributed to a 'technical incident'. Clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in Douala on Sunday left four people dead.
In Garoua, Tchiroma's hometown, two people were reportedly killed after shots were fired at civilians outside his home, according to a Facebook post by Tchiroma. The incident has not been independently verified. Tchiroma also claimed security personnel attempted to arrest him at his residence, urging protests against what he called 'falsified and distorted results'.
Biya has ruled Cameroon with an iron fist since taking office, abolishing presidential term limits in 2008 and repressing political opposition. He is only the second leader since Cameroon's independence from France in 1960.
