Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a presidential candidate in Cameroon, has denounced the recent re-election of Paul Biya as illegitimate, claiming the outcome disregarded the authentic voice of the electorate.
On Monday, the Constitutional Council confirmed that 92-year-old Biya won with 53.7% of the vote, securing his position as Africa’s longest-serving leader since he first took office in 1982. Tchiroma, his main rival, was reported to have garnered 35.2% of the ballots.
Speaking to AFP shortly after the official announcement, Tchiroma asserted that the opposition was the true victor and accused the government of electoral fraud. He called on citizens to engage in peaceful protests following the October 12 election, urging them to demand what he described as a mandate for meaningful change.
“This election was nothing more than a sham; the opposition clearly won,” Tchiroma declared to AFP on Monday.
Following the announcement, tensions flared at a rally near Tchiroma’s residence in Garoua, the principal city in northern Cameroon. He reported that security forces’ crackdown led to the deaths of two demonstrators. An AFP correspondent witnessed one individual being shot, though it remains uncertain if the person later succumbed to their injuries.
Tchiroma’s opposition carries significant weight given his extensive history within the ruling party. At 76, he served over ten years in Biya’s administration, including as the official spokesperson during military operations against Boko Haram. Once considered a loyalist, he has since distanced himself and is now campaigning on a platform centered on political reform.
Biya’s new term prolongs his uninterrupted leadership over Cameroon, a nation with nearly 32 million inhabitants. Opposition groups have repeatedly criticized past elections, alleging widespread vote manipulation and the silencing of dissent.
Determined to contest the election outcome, Tchiroma stresses that this struggle transcends mere vote counts-it is a fight for the future of democracy in Cameroon. The government has yet to issue a response to his accusations.