Cameroon’s long-serving leader, Paul Biya, has once again extended his more than four-decade grip on power after the country’s Constitutional Council on Monday declared him the winner of the October 12, 2025 presidential election.

The announcement came amid widespread unrest, deadly protests, and deepening concerns about democratic decline in the Central African nation.

According to the official results, Biya, who at 92 years old remains the world’s oldest sitting president, secured 53.66 percent of the total votes cast.

His closest challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally turned fierce critic, garnered 35.19 percent.

The declaration, however, has done little to quell the anger of many Cameroonians who allege the polls were rigged in favor of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Clashes And Arrests Before the Declaration

Tensions erupted on the eve of the announcement when protesters flooded the streets of Douala, Cameroon’s economic hub, demanding transparency and credible results.

Clashes between demonstrators and security forces left at least four people dead and dozens injured.

Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, governor of the Littoral Region, confirmed that 105 protesters were arrested, while several security personnel sustained injuries during the violence.

Videos circulating on social media showed security forces firing tear gas and dispersing crowds that had erected roadblocks not only in Douala but also in the northern cities of Garoua and Maroua.

Opposition activists claim that arrests began days before the vote, with many party agents detained or forced into hiding.

Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, justified the arrests, saying security forces had detained “several people plotting violent attacks.”

Opposition Rejects Results

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who served as Biya’s information minister before breaking ranks, had earlier claimed victory based on figures allegedly compiled by his campaign.

His team accused the electoral commission of “gross manipulation” and ballot stuffing in favor of the incumbent.

Speaking to supporters in Yaoundé after the results were declared, Tchiroma said, “This is not the voice of the people — it is the voice of a system that refuses to retire.”

One of the protesters in Maroua, Oumarou Bouba, a 27-year-old trader, said he took to the streets because he believed his vote was stolen.

“I am ready to stake my life to defend my vote. I voted for Tchiroma because I want change,” he said.

Four Decades of Power and Controversy

Paul Biya first assumed power in 1982, following the resignation of Cameroon’s founding president, Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Over the years, Biya has consolidated control through constitutional amendments and political maneuvering — notably the 2008 amendment that removed presidential term limits, allowing him to run indefinitely.

Although his government has maintained a façade of stability, Biya’s frequent absences in Europe for medical care have sparked widespread speculation about his health and ability to govern.

Critics accuse his administration of entrenching corruption, weakening institutions, and perpetuating poverty in a country endowed with oil, timber, and mineral wealth.

Mounting Security and Economic Challenges

Under Biya’s rule, Cameroon — a nation of nearly 30 million people — faces multiple crises. In the north, the army continues to battle Boko Haram insurgents, while in the English-speaking regions, a violent separatist conflict has raged since 2017, claiming nearly 7,000 lives and displacing more than one million people.

Despite being one of Central Africa’s oil producers, the nation’s economic outlook remains bleak.

Official unemployment stands at 3.5 percent, but the World Bank estimates that more than 57 percent of workers aged 18 to 35 are in informal employment, with limited access to social protection and low wages.

Growing Youth Disillusionment

More than 70 percent of Cameroonians are under 35, and many have never known any leader other than Biya. The generational divide has become increasingly visible, with youth activists calling for political renewal.