By Michelle Ndaga
Tensions are rising across Cameroon as vote counting continues following the October 12 presidential election, in which 92-year-old President Paul Biya is seeking to extend his 43-year rule.
Youth-led protests have erupted in major cities, including Yaoundé and Garoua, where demonstrators burned vehicles and clashed with security forces over allegations of vote rigging and frustration with Biya’s decades-long leadership. Security forces have responded with tear gas and arrests in a bid to quell the unrest.
Opposition figures, including former minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, have gained momentum, particularly among urban youth calling for generational change. However, analysts say Biya remains the frontrunner due to his tight control of state institutions and long-established political networks.
Turnout was notably low in conflict-affected anglophone regions in the northwest and southwest, where insecurity and separatist tensions disrupted polling. Election observers have voiced concern that irregularities and uneven participation could undermine the credibility of the results.
Biya, who has ruled since 1982, is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Critics accuse his government of corruption, repression, and economic stagnation, while supporters hail him as a symbol of stability.
Final results are expected in the coming days, amid fears that further unrest could follow if the outcome fails to reflect growing demands for political and social renewal among Cameroon’s younger generation.
