Deadly clashes have rocked Cameroon following the announcement of the presidential election results of October 12, which saw President Paul Biya secure an eighth term in office.
Local reports emerging from Cameroon revealed that thousands of citizens trooped to the streets on Monday and Tuesday to protest against the election results.
The unrest began in earnest after the Constitutional Council announced late Monday that 92-year-old incumbent President Paul Biya had won a record eighth term in office with 53.66% of the vote, extending his 43-year rule.
The main opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who had preemptively claimed victory, rejected the official results as “truncated” and called on his supporters to take to the streets in protest, triggering the deadly clashes.
The protests were said to have led to the clashes between security forces and opposition supporters.
At least four people have been confirmed dead as deadly clashes rocked Cameroon.
Reports indicate that security personnel used tear gas, water cannons, and live fire to disperse demonstrators who gathered in opposition strongholds like Douala and Garoua.
After the deadly clashes rocked Cameroon, Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji said that opposition leader Bakary will face legal action over allegations he incited “violent post-election demonstrations”.
Nji accused Tchiroma Bakary of organising what he said were “illegal” protests leading to the loss of lives, and also criticised him for declaring victory in the election.
He added that Tchiroma Bakary’s “accomplices responsible for an insurrectionary plan” will also face legal action.
“During these attacks, some of the criminals lost their lives. Several members of the security forces were also seriously injured during clashes with demonstrators,” he said, without providing a specific number of protesters who have been killed in the clashes.
International Bodies React
Meanwhile, international bodies and human rights organizations have reacted as deadly clashes rocked Cameroon.
The European Union said in a statement Tuesday that it was “deeply concerned” by the violent repression of the demonstrations that took place on October 26 and 27 and deploring the death by firearm of several civilians.
The statement reads: “The European Union takes note of the proclamation by the Constitutional Council, on 27 October 2025, of the results of the presidential election.
“It recalls that its partnership with Cameroon, a long-standing partner of the European Union, is based on the Samoa Agreement, which promotes the principles of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. In this context, it underlines the shared commitment to respecting the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, also enshrined in the Constitution of Cameroon.
“The European Union is deeply concerned about the violent repression of the demonstrations that took place on 26 and 27 October 2025, and deplores the death by firearm of several civilians. It further stresses the importance of ensuring the safety and physical integrity of all political actors in this process.
“The European Union calls on the authorities of Cameroon for accountability, transparency, and justice to tackle instances of excessive use of violence and human rights violations. It also calls for the release of all those arbitrarily detained since the presidential elections.”
Similarly, the U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres, echoed these concerns, calling on political stakeholders and their supporters to “exercise restraint, reject violence and refrain from any inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech.”
This was contained in a press statement issued by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
The statement reads: “The Secretary-General has taken note of the announcement of the results of the presidential election held in Cameroon on 12 October. He is deeply concerned by post-electoral violence and by reports of excessive use of force. He deplores the loss of life and injuries among both protesters and security forces and extends his condolences to the families of the victims. He calls for a thorough and impartial investigation into these incidents.
“The Secretary-General urges all political stakeholders and their supporters to exercise restraint, reject violence, and refrain from any inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech. He stresses the critical importance of safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. He calls on authorities to ensure a safe and secure environment where the rights of all citizens are protected and to ensure due process for anyone arrested.”
Meanwhile, Biya is expected to be sworn in within 15 days of the official announcement of the results in consonance with Cameroon’s Constitution. He first came to power in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president and has ruled since then, later benefiting from a constitutional amendment that abolished term limits.
