Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election, extending his rule for another seven years.
The 92-year-old leader secured 53.7 percent of the total votes, according to results announced by the Constitutional Council on Monday.
This marks Biya’s eighth consecutive term in office, making him one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders.
His main challenger, former minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, came second with 35.2 percent of the votes.
Tchiroma, however, had earlier declared himself the winner just days after the October 12 election, claiming he secured 54.8 percent of the votes.
His supporters have since taken to the streets, demanding that the government respect what they describe as the “real” results of the polls.
Tensions escalated on Sunday in the port city of Douala when protesters clashed with security forces. At least four people were reported dead in the violence. Witnesses said security agents initially fired tear gas before using live rounds to disperse demonstrators.
The election, which many analysts had predicted would favour Biya, has been described by critics as another example of Cameroon’s tightly controlled political system.
Opposition parties have long accused the ruling government of manipulating electoral processes to retain power.
Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, making him the only second president in the country’s history since its independence from France in 1960.
His government has faced years of criticism over alleged corruption, economic inequality, and a separatist conflict in the English-speaking regions.
As of the time of this report, Biya’s camp has yet to make a detailed statement about the unrest following the declaration of results, while opposition leaders continue to call for calm and transparency.
