Clashes Erupt in Douala Before Presidential Election Results
(MENAFN) At least four individuals have died in Douala, Cameroon, following violent confrontations between opposition supporters and security forces ahead of the official announcement of the presidential election results, as confirmed by the regional governor.
The unrest began last week after partial election results from the October 12 vote were released by local media.
According to a media outlet, President Paul Biya, aged 92, is leading with 53.66% of the vote, followed by Issa Tchiroma Bakary at 35.1%.
Opposition candidates Cabral Libii and Bello Bouba Maigari trail with 3.41% and 2.45%, respectively.
On Sunday, opposition supporters of Tchiroma took to the streets in Douala, the economic hub of Cameroon, to protest.
They blocked roads, set fire to tires, and clashed with security forces in the lead-up to the official election results, expected on Monday.
Regional governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua reported that demonstrators attacked police stations in two Douala districts and that "four people unfortunately lost their lives" in the violence. Several security personnel were also reported to have sustained injuries.
The country’s Constitutional Council is set to validate the election results, which many expect to confirm Biya's continued presidency, extending his nearly 50-year rule.
The election has sparked significant controversy, as Biya is campaigning for an eighth term after holding power for 43 years, making him one of the world’s oldest leaders and the second-longest-serving head of state in Africa, behind Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
He has been in office since 1982, making him the second president of Cameroon since its independence from France in 1960.
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