Cameroon’s opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared victory in the country’s presidential election, challenging incumbent Paul Biya, who has ruled for more than four decades. Official results from Sunday’s vote are not expected for another two weeks.
“Our victory is clear. It must be respected,” Tchiroma said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. He urged the government to “accept the truth of the ballot box” or risk “plunging the country into turmoil.” The opposition leader promised to release detailed regional results soon, asserting that “the people have chosen.”
Under Cameroonian law, candidates may share tally sheets, but only the Constitutional Council is authorized to announce final results. The government has warned that crossing this line would violate election regulations.
Tchiroma’s declaration echoes a similar move in 2018, when opposition candidate Maurice Kamto also claimed victory before results were announced. Kamto was later arrested, and his supporters faced police crackdowns, including tear gas and mass detentions.
President Biya, 92, is seeking an eighth term in office. His long tenure makes him the world’s oldest serving head of state. The veteran leader faced 11 challengers in the latest vote, with Tchiroma emerging as his main rival after Kamto was disqualified by the Constitutional Council.
Tchiroma, a former employment minister and longtime Biya ally, resigned from the government in June to run against his former boss. His campaign has drawn unexpected enthusiasm, particularly among younger voters eager for change.
Unofficial tallies shared on social media show both Biya’s and Tchiroma’s supporters claiming victory, as images of handwritten vote counts circulate online. The government has cautioned against spreading unverified results.
Political analyst Stephane Akoa told AFP before the election that while Cameroon’s ruling system has the “means to secure results in its favour,” this year’s campaign was notably more competitive than in previous elections. He said the livelier atmosphere made the outcome “more likely to throw up surprises.”
Since taking office in 1982, Biya has maintained a firm grip on power through a mix of patronage, repression, and control of key institutions. Most of Cameroon’s eight million registered voters have known no other leader, and the official results of this election will determine whether that continuity persists.
