Widespread protests and violent clashes erupted across Cameroon following the official announcement of President Paul Biya’s re-election for a new term. Reports indicated that four people were reportedly shot dead in the unrest, which saw security forces confront demonstrators in major cities such as Douala, Garoua, Maroua, and Yaoundé. Eyewitness accounts described soldiers and police firing tear gas to disperse crowds, who in turn barricaded major roads and hurled stones, demanding credible results, transparency, and a review of the vote count from the October 12 presidential election.

According to the Constitutional Council, which officially declared the results on Monday, the 92-year-old President Biya secured 53.66% of the votes in what was termed the "2025 Presidential Election." His closest rival, opposition candidate and former ally Issa Tchiroma Bakary, received 35.19% nationally. Local officials confirmed over 100 protesters were arrested during the disturbances in Douala, the country’s economic capital, while the governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, stated that several security officers were injured.

The announcement was met with significant anger among opposition supporters, many of whom accused the government of manipulating the vote. Mr. Bakary had previously declared himself the winner days before the official results, citing figures allegedly gathered by his party. The opposition continues to insist that the election was marred by irregularities and the disqualification of Biya’s strongest rival. An opposition supporter, Oumarou Bouba, a 27-year-old trader from Maroua, expressed his determination, stating: “I am ready to stake my life to defend my vote. I voted for Tchiroma because I want change.” Earlier reports from local media and the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy suggested at least two demonstrators were killed when security forces opened fire.

President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, extends his decades-long tenure with this victory, now set to lead the nation for another seven years until 2032. At 92, he remains the world’s oldest serving head of state, and his current term is expected to continue until he reaches the age of 99, barring unforeseen developments or constitutional changes. Despite strong support for Tchiroma among Cameroonian diaspora communities—with Tchiroma securing 62.79% in Europe, 66.75% in the Americas, 68.21% in Asia and the Middle East, and 54.99% across Africa—Biya’s domestic lead proved decisive. The Constitutional Council emphasized that the winner is determined by the total number of votes cast across the entire electorate, not by regional or diaspora tallies, especially considering that more than half of eligible diaspora voters reportedly abstained.

Biya’s win comes amid growing calls for political transition within Cameroon, where critics have long accused the ruling party of stifling opposition and manipulating electoral processes. Despite these accusations, the government maintains that the elections were free and fair. Daily Trust reported that the situation in Yaoundé was "tense but widespread," with protests ongoing in nearly all urban centres, although authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the clashes.