Cameroon’s long-serving President, Paul Biya, 92, has secured another seven-year term in office following his re-election in the country’s 2025 presidential election.
The Constitutional Council announced on Monday that Biya won 53.66% of the votes, defeating his main challenger, Issa Tchiroma, who garnered 35.19%. The election, held on October 12, was officially confirmed more than two weeks later.
With this victory, Biya — who has ruled Cameroon since 1982 — extends his leadership into a record eighth term, maintaining his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
However, the result has been rejected by Tchiroma, who claimed he actually won the election with 54.8% of the votes. Prior to the official declaration, he had called on his supporters to hold peaceful demonstrations, despite a government ban on public gatherings.
Tensions escalated in Douala on Sunday, where clashes erupted between security forces and opposition supporters. According to Littoral Regional Governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, four people were killed and several security personnel were injured in the unrest.
“Four people unfortunately lost their lives,” Diboua confirmed, alleging that protesters attacked a gendarmerie brigade and two police stations during the confrontation.
