In Yaoundé, Cameroon, opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared victory early on Tuesday after the presidential election held on October 12. Tchiroma urged the incumbent President Paul Biya, who has held power for over 40 years, to concede the election, emphasizing that the victory must be respected. “Our victory is clear, it must be respected,” he stated in a video message on Facebook. He admonished Biya to “accept the truth of the ballot box” to avoid potentially destabilizing the country.
As of now, Elections Cameroon, the autonomous body responsible for overseeing the election, along with the constitutional court, has not yet announced any official results. Anticipated results are expected no later than October 26. In response to Tchiroma's claims, Biya’s party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), categorically rejected the assertion that the opposition candidate emerged victorious. Gregoire Owona, the deputy secretary-general of the CPDM, stated that Tchiroma did not win and lacks the verified results from the polling stations.
Tchiroma promised to release a comprehensive breakdown of the votes from various regions in the forthcoming days, indicating a commitment to transparency in the electoral process. However, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji issued a stern warning against the premature release of any results, describing such an action as akin to “high treason.” He stressed that only the Constitutional Council has the authority to declare a winner.
The 76-year-old Tchiroma previously served as a government spokesperson and minister of employment under Biya until he opted to step down last year to launch his presidential campaign. His run garnered substantial support from a coalition of opposition parties and civil organizations, attracting large crowds at campaign events. Nevertheless, analysts have largely predicted a victory for the 92-year-old Biya, citing the opposition's division and the exclusion of Biya's strongest rival from the race in August. Out of eleven candidates who participated in the October 12 election, fewer were able to consolidate their support effectively.
President Biya holds the title of the world’s oldest sitting president, having been in power since 1982. His leadership style has led to significant challenges within Cameroon, a country with nearly 30 million inhabitants. Over the years, Cameroon has faced a dangerous secessionist movement in the west and persistent corruption issues that continue to hinder its development, despite the nation’s wealth in natural resources such as oil and minerals.
Approximately 8 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in the election, which used a single-round electoral system. This system awards the presidency to the candidate who obtains the highest number of votes. In the previous presidential election held in 2018, opposition leader Maurice Kamto also claimed victory shortly after the voting concluded. However, he was later arrested, resulting in widespread protests and the detention of dozens of his supporters. Biya won that election by securing over 70% of the vote; however, the election was marred by complaints regarding irregularities and notably low voter turnout.
The ongoing electoral developments in Cameroon continue to draw attention as the country navigates its political landscape, raising questions about the future of governance under the long-standing leadership of Biya amidst a challenging backdrop of internal conflicts and economic struggles.
