YAOUNDÉ – Cameroon’s Constitutional Council on Monday declared 92-year-old Paul Biya the winner of the October 12 presidential election, extending his 43-year rule with a controversial eighth term .
The official results announced by the council’s president, Clement Atangana, stated that Biya secured 53.66% of the vote . His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary—a former minister in Biya’s government—was officially placed second with 35.19% of the vote .
The election and its aftermath have been marred by violence and opposition claims of massive fraud. Tchiroma had previously declared himself the winner, citing his campaign’s own tally, and called on Biya to concede . His rejection of the official results sparked protests in several cities, including Douala and Garoua . Clashes between security forces and protesters over the weekend resulted in the deaths of at least four people .
Biya, who is the world’s oldest head of state, has been in power since 1982 . His latest victory, which could see him remain in office until the age of 99, has highlighted the deep political divisions and generational gap in the Central African nation, where over 70% of the population is under the age of 35 .
