Circus Continues in Cameroon Elections

Cameroon’s disputed 2025 election has sparked rival victory claims, protests and a crisis of credibility, raising fears of deeper political instability (image source)

Cameroon’s October 12 presidential vote has plunged into a prolonged post-poll standoff, with rival claims, street protests and a contested results timeline fuelling political instability more than two weeks after ballots were cast. The National Vote Counting Commission released provisional figures showing incumbent President Paul Biya ahead with just over half the vote, but opposition leaders have rejected the numbers and several have declared victory based on their own tallies — deepening a credibility crisis around the official process.

The political drama began long before polling day: a 92-year-old incumbent seeking another term, a single-round voting system, and heightened scrutiny from regional and international observers created an atmosphere of tension. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary announced his own purported victory and urged authorities to “respect the choice of the people,” echoing earlier cycles where parallel tallies triggered unrest.

Street mobilisation has followed the competing claims. Demonstrations have erupted in Yaounde and other urban centres as opposition supporters accuse state institutions of manipulating the tabulation process. Security forces have used force in parts of the north, where clashes were reported as legal challenges emerged. Government officials insist the electoral commission must complete formal validation procedures — a delay critics say fuels confusion and allows alternative narratives to take root.

Digital disinformation has amplified mistrust. Analysts report a flood of misleading tallies and manipulated content circulating on social platforms, complicating fact-checking efforts by media and civil-society monitors. Fragmented data from polling stations and contradictory statements have left many citizens uncertain which version of results to believe.

Legal avenues have so far failed to ease tensions. Cameroon’s constitutional council dismissed petitions from opposition parties, closing off judicial recourse and increasing the likelihood that resolution will rely on negotiated dialogue or international mediation. Analysts warn that bypassing the courts risks further polarisation and a prolonged governance crisis.

The stakes extend beyond the presidency. Another disputed mandate for Biya — who has ruled since 1982 — would deepen questions about democratic legitimacy in Central Africa. Continued volatility threatens economic disruption and the risk of instability spilling into anglophone and northern regions already facing conflict.

Whether authorities and opposition figures can establish a transparent, credible path toward resolution in the coming days will determine if Cameroon steps back from confrontation or descends further into political turmoil.