Biya Hangs On: How Long Before the Streets Speak Louder?

Protests erupt in Cameroon as President Paul Biya’s disputed re-election sparks unrest in Douala and Yaoundé, raising questions over electoral transparency and the future of his decades-long rule (image source)

Cameroon’s October 12 presidential poll appeared routine, with eight million voters called to choose between long-serving President Paul Biya and a fragmented opposition. Biya, 92, has ruled since 1982, and his re-election bid was seen as likely to extend his unprecedented tenure by another seven years. Despite generally peaceful voting, protests erupted in Douala and Yaoundé within hours of polls closing. Demonstrators accused officials of inflating Biya’s tally to secure victory, chanting “No more lies, respect our votes,” and blocking major thoroughfares.

“I went to cast my ballot—and they told me to wait as results were already posted,” said Marie Nkeng, a market vendor in Douala. “When we saw the numbers, people believed the system was stolen right before our eyes.” Videos on social media show crowds overturning ballot boxes and clashing with riot police. On October 19, Bishop Paul Lontsié-Keuné called on all stakeholders to “respect the truth of the ballots,” stressing that the dignity and stability of Cameroon hinge on transparent results. His plea followed earlier appeals by the National Episcopal Conference urging citizens to register, vote, and monitor outcomes diligently.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Biya’s former ally turned main challenger, declared himself winner in a Facebook livestream from his northern hometown of Garo. “We have incontrovertible proof of fraud,” he asserted, citing discrepancies between official figures and independent tallies by his campaign agents. Security forces deployed in protest hotspots insisted they were restoring order. “We do not want bloodshed,” said one officer on condition of anonymity. “But we will safeguard public safety and ensure the streets are cleared.”

Political analysts warn that the protests reflect deeper unrest. “Decades of unchecked power have fuelled youth disenchantment,” noted Amadou Diallo of the African Governance Think Tank. “This generation demands credible institutions; tolerating opaque elections is fast becoming untenable.”

Cameroon’s economy, reliant on cocoa and oil, faces headwinds from inflation and growing unrest in Anglophone regions. Many voters viewed the election as a referendum on corruption and stalled reforms, rather than a simple choice between personalities. International observers reported logistical hiccups and inconsistent result transmission but stopped short of labelling the election fraudulent. The African Union has yet to issue its final assessment, while Western capitals cautiously noted the unrest but refrained from direct criticism.

As the government prepares to announce provisional results, momentum in the streets suggests a fragile calm. Demonstrators vow to stay until “every vote is counted,” while Biya’s camp insists the process was fair. Whether his decades-old grip can withstand this wave of civic defiance remains the defining question of his twilight years in power.