The world’s oldest president has again won the vote in Cameroon, despite violent clashes ahead of the election.
Paul Biya, 92, who has been in power since 1982 and could remain there beyond 100, angered the country’s youth and opposition with his decision to stand for re-election, with their supporters accusing authorities of seeking to rig the vote.
Four protesters were shot dead during clashes with security forces in Douala, the economic capital, on Sunday, while more than 100 were arrested as demonstrators took to the streets to demand credible results from the October 12 presidential election.
The Constitutional Council said he received 53.66% of votes, while former ally-turned challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary won 35.19%.
Several members of the security forces were also injured in Douala by the protesters, according to Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, governor of the Littoral Region that includes Douala.
Videos online showed demonstrators clashing with security forces, who fired tear gas and tried to disperse the protesters barricading major roads in Douala and other cities, including Garoua and Maroua in the north.
Mr Tchiroma had claimed victory days before the election, citing results he said were collated by his party, but Mr Biya dismissed the claim.
Dozens of opposition supporters, activists and leaders were arrested in recent days.
Opposition supporters had rallied to demand credible results from the African country’s recent presidential election, local officials said. More than 100 protesters were arrested in one region.
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The violence came as Cameroon‘s top court, the Constitutional ouncil, was expected to announce final election results on Monday, though the opposition and their supporters have accused authorities of seeking to rig the vote.
Hundreds stormed the streets in several cities on Sunday following days of unrest and in response to protest calls by opposition candidate Mr Bakary, who claims to have defeated Mr Biya in the 12 October election.
• Cameroon is a country lying at the junction of western and central Africa
• The capital Yaoundé is located in the south-central part of the country
• The nation has a population of 28,372,687, according to 2023 World Health Organization data
• There are three main linguistic groups: the Bantu-speaking peoples of the south, the Sudanic-speaking peoples of the north, and those who speak the Semi-Bantu languages, largely situated in the west
• Ahmadou Ahidjo was the previous president of Cameroon, who served from 1960 to 1982
The African Movement for New Independence and Democracy opposition party and local media earlier reported that at least two demonstrators were shot and killed by security forces as they sought to disperse the protests.
The opposition has accused Mr Biya of having a hand in the disqualification of his strongest rival and of using “state machinery” to manipulate the election in his favour.
Paul Atanga Nji told reporters on Saturday that the government arrested several people plotting violent attacks.
One protester, Oumarou Bouba, a 27-year-old trader in the northern city of Maroua, said: “I am ready to stake my life to defend my vote.
“I voted for Tchiroma because I want change.”
