Cameroon’s main opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared victory in the country’s presidential election, challenging incumbent Paul Biya, who has ruled for more than four decades.
Tchiroma made the announcement on Tuesday through a post on Facebook, claiming that his win in the weekend election was “clear” and must be respected.
“Our victory is clear. It must be respected,” he said.
“The government must accept the truth of the ballot box or plunge the country into turmoil.”
He also promised to publish detailed regional results to prove his claim, insisting that “the people have chosen.”
However, official results are not expected for at least two weeks. Under Cameroon’s law, only the Constitutional Council can announce the final results a process the government has described as a “red line that must not be crossed.”
Despite that rule, images of tally sheets and blackboards showing vote counts have flooded social media, with both Biya’s and Tchiroma’s supporters claiming victory.
Tchiroma, a former employment minister who once served in Biya’s government for 20 years, resigned in June to join the opposition.
He quickly emerged as the leading challenger after Maurice Kamto, the 2018 opposition figure, was barred from running by the council.
During the last presidential election in 2018, Kamto had also declared himself the winner before the official announcement.
He was later arrested, and his supporters faced heavy police crackdowns using tear gas and water cannons.
Observers say Tchiroma’s campaign has generated rare enthusiasm among voters, who see him as a symbol of change after 43 years of Biya’s rule.
Political analyst Stephane Akoa said the campaign was “much livelier” than usual and might produce surprises.
But he warned that Cameroon’s ruling system “has the means to secure results in its favour.”
Biya, now 92 years old, is Africa’s oldest serving president and is seeking an eighth term in office.
Since taking power in 1982, he has maintained a tight grip on the nation, surviving coups, separatist movements, and waves of civil unrest.
Most of Cameroon’s eight million registered voters have known only one leader in their lifetime.
As results await verification, tension is rising across the country, with fears of potential unrest if either side rejects the outcome