Cameroon stands at a tense crossroads as the nation awaits the official results of its October 12, 2025, presidential election. In scenes marked by protests, arrests, and mounting international scrutiny, the days leading up to the expected announcement on Monday, October 27, have brought the country’s long-standing political divisions into sharp relief. The outcome could determine whether President Paul Biya, now 92 and the world’s oldest serving head of state, extends his already four-decade rule—or if a newly energized opposition can force a dramatic change.
According to Reuters, hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets in Cameroon’s largest city, Douala, on Sunday, October 26. Barricading roads and burning tyres, demonstrators voiced their support for opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary and accused authorities of preparing to rig the vote. Police responded with teargas and water cannons, dispersing crowds chanting, “We want Tchiroma, we want Tchiroma!” Clashes erupted not only in Douala but also in Garoua—Tchiroma’s hometown—and other cities, as opposition anger boiled over in the face of partial results reported by local media that suggested Biya was on track for another term.
The unrest has not been limited to demonstrations. Multiple sources, including AP and Pan African Visions, confirm that Cameroonian authorities have arrested at least 30 politicians and activists linked to Tchiroma’s Union for Change coalition. Among those detained are Anicet Ekane, leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) party, and Djeukam Tchameni, a veteran reformer. The MANIDEM party reported that its treasurer and other members were also “kidnapped” by security forces, a move they described as intended “to intimidate Cameroonians.” The government, meanwhile, has justified the arrests as necessary to prevent what Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji described as an “insurrectional movement.” In a press conference on October 25, Nji stated, “Calls for protests by certain politicians with an obsession for power undoubtedly create conditions for a security crisis and contribute to the implementation of the insurrection scheme.”
Yet, opposition figures and their supporters see things very differently. Issa Tchiroma, a former cabinet minister under Biya who resigned months before the election to mount his own challenge, has claimed victory based on early returns from the northern regions. In a Facebook post on October 25, Tchiroma warned that any attempt to detain him would constitute “an assault against the entire Cameroonian people.” He added, “The people are simply asking you to recognize their victory.” Tchiroma has repeatedly rejected accusations of plotting insurrection and has alleged that government officials tried to negotiate with some of those arrested before their detention.
Protests have not been confined to Douala. On October 25, motorcyclists in Bafoussam, the capital of the West Region, flooded major roads demanding a credible election process, as reported by the AP. Earlier in the week, clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in several arrests and, tragically, the death of a 30-year-old primary schoolteacher, Zairatou Hassana, in Garoua. According to her uncle, Amadou Adji, Hassana was not participating in the protests but was instead checking on her sister who had not returned from school. “Her death makes me keep a bad souvenir of this regime like all other Cameroonians,” Adji told AP.
The government’s response to the unrest has extended beyond arrests and crowd control. Civil society organizations and advocacy groups, including Internet Without Borders, have reported widespread internet disruptions and restricted access to social media platforms since midweek. These measures, they argue, have severely hampered journalists and ordinary citizens from sharing updates or organizing peacefully. Internet Without Borders condemned the blackout as an “assault on transparency” at a pivotal moment for Cameroon’s democracy. Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed these concerns on October 25, stating he was “concerned about reports of internet blockages and crackdowns against protesters as Cameroon awaits official election results.” He added, “It is critical that the election outcome is transparent and reflects the will of the people.”
International observers have also weighed in. Missions from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) have called for calm and strict adherence to constitutional procedures, urging all parties to avoid violence. Congressman Jonathan Jackson, another U.S. lawmaker, called on Cameroonian authorities to ensure “full transparency and accountability in accordance with Cameroon’s electoral code,” highlighting worries over “limited political freedoms, restrictions on civil society and the media, voter disenfranchisement in conflict-affected regions, and other irregularities that could undermine confidence in the process.”
At the heart of the turmoil lies a deep mistrust in Cameroon’s institutions. The Electoral Commission (ELECAM) had not released official results as of October 25, with the final certified outcome expected from the Constitutional Council on Monday, October 27. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has urged calm and warned against “self-proclaimed results,” as opposition supporters continue to claim victory for Tchiroma. For many Cameroonians, the credibility of the electoral system itself is at stake. As one observer in Douala told Pan African Visions, “Cameroon has reached a point where the credibility of the system itself is on the line. The people have waited too long for accountability.”
Meanwhile, President Biya has remained conspicuously silent since the polls closed. Known for his rare public appearances and tightly controlled communication, Biya’s absence from the public eye has fueled speculation about internal divisions and the future of his party. With Biya seeking an eighth term and potentially remaining in power until nearly 100 years old, the question of succession looms large. The current crisis comes against a backdrop of economic strain and unresolved regional conflicts, adding to the uncertainty about Cameroon’s future.
As the nation braces for the Constitutional Council’s announcement, the stakes could hardly be higher. Will Cameroon’s leadership heed calls for transparency and accountability, or will the cycle of unrest and repression persist? For now, the country holds its breath, with its political fate—and perhaps its democratic future—hanging in the balance.
