Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya has been declared the winner of the recent election, securing an eighth term in office — a victory that could keep the longtime leader in power until he is nearly 100 years old.
According to official results announced by the Constitutional Council, the 92-year-old incumbent had secured 53.66 percent of the vote in the October 12 election. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma received 35.19 percent.
Clement Atangana, President of the Constitutional Council, said, “Hereby proclaimed President-elect: the candidate Biya Paul.”
Biya took office in 1982 and has held a tight grip on power ever since, doing away with the presidential term limit in 2008 and winning re-election by comfortable margins.
This year, his strongest challenge came from Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government Spokesperson and Employment Minister in his late 70s who broke ranks with Biya earlier this year and mounted a campaign that drew large crowds and endorsements from a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.
Tchiroma had claimed victory days before the announcement, citing results he said were collated by his party. Biya dismissed the claim.
On Sunday, at least four people were killed in Cameroon’s largest city, Douala, as security forces clashed with protesters when opposition supporters rallied to demand credible results.
More to come…
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