Yaounde, Cameroon –
Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, urged citizens to reject violence and restore calm as he was sworn in for an eighth term on Thursday following a fiercely contested election marked by deadly unrest.
Protests erupted shortly after the announcement that the 92-year-old leader had secured 53.66% of the vote, extending his more than four-decade rule. Opposition groups allege widespread irregularities and accuse Biya of presiding over the country’s deteriorating political and economic conditions.
In his inauguration speech, Biya condemned what he described as attempts—particularly by members of the diaspora—to “incite hatred and violence,” warning that Cameroon “does not need a post-election crisis with potentially dramatic consequences.”
At least 48 civilians were killed during the protests, according to two UN sources, while the government reports five deaths. Rights groups and several international observers have criticized the heavy-handed response by security forces.
The capital, Yaounde, was heavily militarized and partially deserted as Biya took the oath of office. He pledged loyalty to the electorate and vowed to steer Cameroon toward a “united, stable and prosperous” future.
The election was declared in Biya’s favor by the Constitutional Council on 27 October, ahead of his former ally-turned-challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who received 35.19%. Tchiroma rejected the results, alleging vote tampering and declaring himself the rightful winner, sparking widespread demonstrations and a three-day lockdown.
Biya, who came to power in 1982, remains Africa’s oldest and one of the world’s longest-serving rulers. His prolonged absences in Europe have fueled speculation about his health, while ongoing insurgencies in the north and west and a stagnant economy continue to frustrate younger generations.
Source: Adapted from Africanews
