At least four people have died in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city, after violent clashes erupted between police and opposition protesters ahead of the announcement of the 2025 presidential election results. The unrest reflects escalating political tensions in a country where President Paul Biya, 92, seeks an unprecedented eighth term in office.

According to Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, governor of the region encompassing Douala, the clashes occurred after hundreds of supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma defied a protest ban and took to the streets. Protesters barricaded roads, burned tires, and threw rocks at law enforcement officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Several police officers were wounded during the confrontations, and Tchiroma’s campaign confirmed the deaths of four civilians. Protesters also attacked police stations in Douala’s second and sixth districts, heightening fears of wider unrest.

Election Dispute Sparks Tensions

The protests follow partial results from the October 12 election, which suggested that Biya was on track to retain power. Tchiroma, however, claims he won 54.8 percent of the vote, compared to Biya’s 31.3 percent. He has called on Cameroonians to protest if the Constitutional Council validates what he calls “falsified and distorted results.”

The government has rejected allegations of electoral irregularities and urged the public to wait for the official announcement, expected on Monday.

Nationwide Demonstrations

Protests have spread beyond Douala to multiple cities, including the capital Yaounde, Tchiroma’s hometown Garoua, as well as Maroua, Meiganga, Bafang, Bertoua, Kousseri, Yagoua, Kaele, and Bafoussam. In Garoua, demonstrators set fire to barricades in a visible show of opposition frustration.

Journalist Blaise Eyong, reporting from Douala, highlighted that the country’s youth population – the majority of Cameroonians – is particularly angered by alleged vote manipulation. High youth unemployment has exacerbated frustration, fueling widespread protests despite government attempts to curb demonstrations through internet blackouts.

Political Detentions and Rising Tensions

Tchiroma’s campaign manager reported that authorities have detained about 30 politicians and activists supporting his candidacy, including Anicet Ekane, leader of the MANIDEM party, and Djeukam Tchameni of the Union for Change movement. Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji described the arrests as part of an “insurrectional movement,” though details on detainees remain scarce.

Longstanding Leadership Under Scrutiny

President Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982. If re-elected for another seven-year term, he could remain in power until nearly 100 years old, making him the world’s longest-serving head of state. Tchiroma, a former minister and one-time Biya ally, has publicly rejected any election outcome that does not confirm his victory, intensifying political uncertainty.

Outlook

As Cameroon awaits official results from the Constitutional Council, the country faces a critical political juncture. The combination of disputed election claims, nationwide protests, and youth mobilization underscores the potential for escalating unrest and ongoing political instability.