In the wake of Cameroon’s contentious presidential election on October 12, 2025, the streets of its major cities have become battlegrounds of protest, grief, and political uncertainty. President Paul Biya, now 92 and the world’s oldest elected leader, was declared the winner by Cameroon’s Constitutional Council with 53% of the vote, extending his rule for another seven years and potentially leading the nation until he is nearly 100. But the official results have been met with fierce resistance from opposition parties and widespread condemnation both at home and abroad.
The days following the announcement were marked by violence and chaos. According to The Associated Press, opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who claimed to have won the election, urged Biya to concede and denounced the results as fraudulent. Tchiroma’s allegations echoed those of civil society groups and international monitors. The National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon reported “several irregularities,” including attempted ballot stuffing, and the European Union later expressed “deep concern about the violent repression of demonstrations” and the “death by firearm of several civilians.”
Protests erupted in Douala, Garoua, and other urban centers. In Douala, the country’s economic capital, at least four people were killed in clashes as riot police confronted demonstrators blocking roads with burning tires and debris. Garoua, Tchiroma’s home city, saw police firing tear gas into crowds. On election result day, armed men opened fire on protesters near Tchiroma’s residence in Garoua, fatally wounding at least two civilians, as reported by BBC News. The unrest was further fueled by a partial internet outage, which officials attributed to a submarine cable cut—but, as Bloomberg noted, the government has previously used internet shutdowns to suppress dissent.
The violence and government’s heavy-handed response drew swift rebukes from the international community. The European Union called for “restraint, independent investigations, and the release of all persons arbitrarily detained since the election.” The EU, along with American and Canadian ambassadors, notably boycotted the Constitutional Council’s session where the results were proclaimed. The United Nations and African Union also urged the Cameroonian government to curb excessive force and open dialogue to maintain national stability.
Despite the turmoil, Biya’s supporters celebrated in his strongholds, while government ministers held victory gatherings. In contrast, the usual bustle of Douala’s streets was replaced by deserted avenues, shuttered shops, and a tense calm enforced by heavy rain and the presence of armed security forces. Schools and businesses remained closed for a second consecutive day as inhabitants blocked city entrances to denounce the outcome.
Opposition reactions were divided. Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Patricia Hermine Tomaïno Ndam Njoya, who finished fifth, outright rejected the results. Ndam Njoya condemned the election as “not worthy of a Republic,” calling it “a confiscation of the people’s choice by interests that reject transparency in the democratic process.” She added, “I solemnly reject these results.” Akere Muna, a lawyer and former presidential candidate, went further, accusing the Constitutional Council of being “nothing more than the rubber stamp of a tyranny.” Meanwhile, Cabral Libii, who placed third, “took note” of the results and congratulated the “candidate proclaimed elected”—though he notably did not name Biya and instead directed his supporters to focus on upcoming local elections.
The government’s response to the unrest was swift and uncompromising. On October 28, Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji announced that Issa Tchiroma Bakary would face legal action for allegedly inciting “violent post-election demonstrations.” Nji accused Tchiroma of organizing “illegal” protests that led to the loss of lives and declared that his “accomplices responsible for an insurrectionary plan” would also be prosecuted. “During these attacks, some of the criminals lost their lives,” Nji said, though he did not specify the number of casualties. He also revealed that several members of the security forces had sustained serious injuries during the clashes, and that an investigation would be launched into the violent incidents before and after the announcement of the election results.
For many Cameroonians, the election and its aftermath have raised profound questions about the country’s future. Most of the population—where the median age is just 18—have never known another leader. Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving heads of state, second only to Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. His continued grip on power has been maintained through constitutional amendments, strong state control, and a fragmented opposition. The most credible opposition candidate, Maurice Kamto, was barred from running by the courts, further undermining the legitimacy of the electoral process.
The election took place against a backdrop of deep-seated challenges. Cameroon is already grappling with a separatist conflict in its Anglophone regions and a jihadist insurgency by Boko Haram in the Far North. Political stagnation and a cost-of-living crisis have only added to the sense of frustration and urgency. As Comfort Ero, president of the International Crisis Group, told The Africa Report, “What comes next will be a test for Cameroon’s stability.”
International observers and rights groups remain wary. The European Union’s call for independent investigations and the release of detainees has yet to be answered. The absence of Western diplomats from the results proclamation session was a clear diplomatic signal, and the ongoing unrest in Douala and Garoua suggests that tensions are far from resolved. Analysts warn that the post-electoral violence could plunge the country into a deeper political crisis, especially if the government continues to suppress dissent rather than engage in meaningful dialogue.
As Biya embarks on another seven-year term, the stakes for Cameroon could hardly be higher. The world is watching to see whether the government will heed calls for reform and reconciliation—or whether the cycle of unrest and repression will continue, with ordinary Cameroonians bearing the brunt of the fallout.
