Cameroon President Paul Biya, world’s oldest serving ruler, on Monday became the leader for the eight time, triggering clashes between security forces and opposition-back supporters who claimed that the vote was rigged.
According to Reuters, the supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, armed with sticks and stones, blocked off roads with debris and burning tyres in the commercial capital Douala. In response, police fired tear gas at the protesters.
With the election results being announced, the 92-year-old President will likely continue until he is almost 100.
Biya took office for the first time in 1982 and continued to be the President while doing away with the presidential term limit in 2008 and winning reelection by comfortable margins, Reuters reported.
“At this point in time when the sovereign people have once again placed their trust in me for a new term of office, my first thoughts are with all those who have unnecessarily lost their lives, as well with their families, as a result of the post-election violence,” he said in a post on X.
Reuters quoted official results as stating that Biya won the October 12 vote by a comfortable margin of 53.66% against 35.19% for opposition leader Tchiroma.
The opposition said that four people died in clashes in Douala.
“We all know that the majority of Cameroon’s people voted for Issa Tchiroma Bakary,” said one protester. “It is inadmissible that President Paul Biya won in certain war zones.”
Interestingly, Biya’s daughter Brenda had published a now-deleted TikTok video urging voters not to choose her father, Reuters reported.
“We expect unrest to escalate as Cameroonians widely reject the official result, and we cannot see the Biya government lasting much longer,” said Francois Conradie, lead political economist at Oxford Economics.
World's Oldest President, Paul Biya, Once Again Wins Cameroon Election At 92
Cameroon President Paul Biya, world’s oldest serving ruler, on Monday became the leader for the eight time, triggering clashes between security forces and opposition-back supporters who claimed that the vote was rigged. According to Reuters, the supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, armed with sticks and stones, blocked off roads with debris and burning tyres in the commercial capital Douala. In response, police fired tear gas at the protesters. With the election results being announced, the 92-year-old President will likely continue until he is almost 100. Biya took office for the first time in 1982 and continued to be the President while doing away with the presidential term limit in 2008 and winning reelection by comfortable margins, Reuters reported. “At this point in time when the sovereign people have once again placed their trust in me for a new term of office, my first thoughts are with all those who have unnecessarily lost their lives, as well with their families, as a result of the post-election violence,” he said in a post on X. Reuters quoted official results as stating that Biya won the October 12 vote by a comfortable margin of 53.66% against 35.19% for opposition leader Tchiroma. The opposition said that four people died in clashes in Douala. “We all know that the majority of Cameroon’s people voted for Issa Tchiroma Bakary,” said one protester. “It is inadmissible that President Paul Biya won in certain war zones.” Interestingly, Biya’s daughter Brenda had published a now-deleted TikTok video urging voters not to choose her father, Reuters reported. “We expect unrest to escalate as Cameroonians widely reject the official result, and we cannot see the Biya government lasting much longer,” said Francois Conradie, lead political economist at Oxford Economics.
