At least four people have been confirmed dead following violent clashes between security forces and supporters of Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, ahead of the official announcement of the country’s presidential election results.
Authorities said the violence broke out on Sunday in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city, after demonstrators defied a government ban to march in support of Tchiroma, who claims to have won the October 12 presidential election.
Tchiroma, who is challenging 92-year-old President Paul Biya’s 43-year rule, insists he secured “54.8 percent of the vote” in the polls. However, political observers expect Biya to retain power for an eighth term amid widespread allegations of electoral manipulation.
The Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, confirmed the fatalities while condemning the attacks on state institutions.
“Four people unfortunately lost their lives, and several members of the security forces sustained injuries during the unrest,” Diboua said.
Eyewitnesses told journalists that security forces fired tear gas and later live ammunition to disperse protesters who had gathered near a gendarmerie brigade and police stations.
“They first fired tear gas, then used live bullets. Three people fell right in front of us,” a protester said on condition of anonymity.
The Constitutional Council is expected to announce the final results of the election at 11:00 a.m. local time (10:00 GMT) in the capital, Yaoundé.
Earlier on Sunday, police dispersed hundreds of Tchiroma’s supporters in his northern stronghold of Garoua.
The demonstrators, waving national flags and chanting slogans such as “Goodbye Paul Biya, Tchiroma is coming,” demanded the declaration of what they described as “the people’s victory.”
Tchiroma also alleged in a video message that soldiers attempted to abduct him from his residence in Yaoundé, where dozens of his supporters have been camping in recent days.
Meanwhile, opposition figures Djeukam Tchameni and Anicet Ekane — both leaders of parties allied with Tchiroma — were arrested in Douala on Friday, their coalition confirmed.
The situation has been further compounded by reports of restricted internet access across parts of Cameroon, which digital watchdog NetBlocks said may limit real-time reporting from affected regions.
Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji, however, warned that the protests risk plunging the country into instability.
“These demonstrations create conditions for a security crisis and form part of an insurrectionist project,” Nji said.
