At least four people have been killed in Cameroon’s commercial capital, Douala, as security forces clashed with opposition supporters protesting alleged election fraud ahead of the official announcement of presidential results.
The unrest erupted after hundreds of demonstrators loyal to opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma defied a government ban and marched through the streets, claiming that he had defeated longtime President Paul Biya in the October 12 vote. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons as protesters burned tyres, blocked roads, and attacked police stations in two districts of Douala, according to regional officials.
Governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua confirmed the deaths and said several officers were injured in the clashes. Tchiroma’s campaign also reported casualties, accusing the authorities of using excessive force to silence dissent.
Partial results released by local media suggest Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and is now 92, is on course to win an eighth term. However, Tchiroma insists he won with 54.8% of the vote and has urged his supporters to reject what he called “falsified results.”
Protests have spread to several other cities, including Yaounde, Garoua, Maroua, Bafang, and Bertoua. Reports indicate widespread internet disruptions across the country and the detention of several opposition politicians and activists.
Authorities have warned against what they describe as an “insurrectional movement,” as tensions rise ahead of the Constitutional Council’s announcement of official results expected on Monday.