Clashes Erupt in Cameroon Following Presidential Election
YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Clashes with security forces have resulted in the deaths of at least four protesters as opposition supporters rallied for credible results from the recent presidential election, reports BritPanorama.
In addition to the fatalities, more than 100 protesters were arrested across various regions. The turmoil coincided with expectations that Cameroon’s constitutional council would announce final election results on Monday, as opposition factions alleged that the government was attempting to rig the vote.
Hundreds took to the streets in multiple cities on Sunday, motivated by days of escalating unrest and calls to protest by opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who claims to have defeated President Paul Biya in the election held on October 12.
According to Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, governor of the Littoral Region, which encompasses the economic hub of Douala, four protesters were killed and several security personnel sustained injuries amidst the violence, prompted by attacks on police stations.
At least 105 individuals were detained during the unrest in Douala, further highlighting the severity of the protests.
Earlier reports from the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy opposition party and local media indicated that at least two protesters were shot dead by security forces while attempting to disperse the crowds.
Videos circulating online captured intense confrontations between protesters and security personnel, who responded with tear gas in attempts to clear barricades along major thoroughfares in Douala, Garoua, and Maroua in the north.
The protests have seen the arrest of numerous opposition supporters, activists, and leaders. Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, remarked on Saturday that several individuals were apprehended while plotting violent actions.
One protester, 27-year-old Oumarou Bouba from Maroua, expressed determination, stating, “I am ready to stake my life to defend my vote. I voted for Tchiroma because I want change.”
Tensions had been mounting leading up to the election in Cameroon, a nation with nearly 30 million inhabitants. The decision by 92-year-old Biya, who has ruled for nearly half his life and is the world’s oldest leader, to seek reelection has fueled anger among the country’s youth and opposition factions.
Opposition groups have accused Biya of influence over the disqualification of his strongest rival, asserting that he utilized “state machinery” to manipulate the election process in his favour.
