Cameroon’s opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared himself winner of Sunday’s presidential election, setting the stage for a possible political showdown with long-time ruler, President Paul Biya, who has been in power for over four decades.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Tchiroma said the opposition had won “clearly and convincingly,” urging the government to respect “the will of the people” or risk pushing the country into turmoil.
“Our victory is clear. It must be respected. The people have spoken,” he wrote, promising to release detailed regional results to support his claim.
The government, however, has cautioned that only the Constitutional Council is empowered to announce final results, a process that may take up to two weeks, warning that any parallel declaration would violate electoral laws.
The development has sparked memories of the 2018 election when opposition leader Maurice Kamto also declared himself winner ahead of the official announcement. His declaration was followed by a government crackdown, arrests of opposition figures, and the violent dispersal of protests.
President Biya, now 92 and the world’s oldest sitting head of state, is seeking to extend his 43-year rule despite growing discontent over corruption, insecurity, and economic stagnation.
Tchiroma, a former employment minister, has attracted significant support, particularly among young voters and the urban middle class, who see him as a symbol of change. His campaign’s momentum has taken many by surprise, posing one of the strongest challenges yet to Biya’s grip on power.
Unofficial tallies circulating on social media show both camps claiming victory, with images of handwritten results from polling stations fuelling speculation and tension.
Political observers warn that the competing claims could heighten volatility in the coming days. “Cameroon is entering a delicate phase,” one analyst said. “The credibility of the electoral process and how authorities manage the aftermath will determine whether the situation stabilises or escalates.”
Leave a Reply