Paul Biya, Cameroon's 92-year-old leader, has been sworn in for an eighth seven-year term as president in a ceremony at the country's parliament in Yaoundé. This extends his already lengthy tenure to 43 years, making him one of the world's longest-serving and oldest heads of state. His victory in the recent October 12 election was fiercely disputed, winning approximately 54% of the vote despite addressing only a single campaign rally in Maroua on October 7.

The official results, which declared Biya the winner with 53.7% against his main challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary's 35.2%, immediately sparked widespread controversy. Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister and spokesman who broke ranks with Biya to challenge him for power, vehemently rejected the outcome, maintaining he was the rightful winner and accusing authorities of fraud. These accusations were denied by the Cameroonian ruling party.

The announcement of Biya's victory on October 27 led to major protests across the country, with security forces reportedly quashing opposition rallies just before and after the results were announced. Reuters, citing two United Nations sources, reported that 48 people lost their lives during these protests across Cameroon. The government acknowledged deaths in the unrest but did not provide an official toll. Judges on the Constitutional Council, whose members are appointed by Biya, dismissed eight petitions challenging the results, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or a lack of jurisdiction to annul results. Notably, Tchiroma Bakary had refused to file complaints with the Constitutional Council.

In response, Tchiroma Bakary declared himself the "president elected by the Cameroonian people" and repeatedly urged his supporters to protest against the official results, which were closer than expected. He called for "dead city" operations, where shops close and public activities halt. This call was widely heeded in his strongholds of Garoua and Douala, but the response in Yaoundé was mixed, with most shops remaining open. Tchiroma's whereabouts were reportedly unknown or "on the move" after being confined to his home in Garoua. The Cameroonian government has since announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against the opposition leader, denouncing his "repeated calls for insurrection."

The political standoff has drawn significant international criticism. Both the European Union and the African Union have condemned the authorities' violent crackdown on protests, while the United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an investigation. The International Crisis Group (ICG) warned on October 29 of high risks of worsening unrest due to neither side willing to back down.

Paul Biya, only the second person to lead Cameroon since its independence from France in 1960, has ruled with an iron fist. He has consistently repressed political and armed opposition, holding onto power in the face of social upheaval, economic inequality, and separatist violence during his more than four decades in power. During his swearing-in address, Biya acknowledged "the gravity of the situation our country is going through," understanding "the number and severity of the challenges we face, and the depth of frustrations and the scale of expectations," pledging to "spare no effort to continue to be worthy of this trust."