Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, has officially begun his eighth term in office after being sworn in on Thursday, extending his 43-year rule.
At 92, Biya is the world’s oldest head of state, having secured victory in the October 12 election with 53.7% of the votes.
His closest rival, former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, garnered 35.2%.
The election results sparked widespread protests, which were met with a heavy-handed security response, leading to multiple fatalities among demonstrators.
The swearing-in ceremony was held in Yaoundé’s parliament, marking the start of another seven-year term.
While addressing the assembly, Biya vowed to uphold the trust of the Cameroonian people despite the nation’s deep challenges.
“I fully understand the gravity of the situation our country is going through. I understand the depth of frustrations and the scale of expectations,” he said.
No foreign leaders attended the event.
Meanwhile, Tchiroma, a former ally turned opposition figure, has continued to reject the election outcome, claiming victory and accusing the Constitutional Council of appointing Biya.
On social media, he declared: “There are now two presidents: the one elected by the Cameroonian people (me) and the one appointed by the Constitutional Council (whom you know).”
Tchiroma has called for protests and “dead city” operations, urging citizens to shut down public activities.
While his call has been widely followed in cities like Garoua and Douala, life has largely continued as normal in the capital, Yaoundé.
The government has condemned Tchiroma’s actions as “repeated calls for insurrection” and announced plans for legal action against him.
Despite acknowledging deaths during the unrest, officials have not disclosed the number of casualties.
The political standoff has drawn international attention, with the European Union, African Union, and United Nations condemning the government’s violent crackdown and calling for an investigation.
Biya, who first assumed power in 1982, is only the second person to lead Cameroon since its independence from France in 1960.
His tenure has been marked by repression of opposition, economic inequality, and ongoing separatist violence, as well as persistent accusations of electoral fraud and authoritarianism.
With both sides refusing to compromise, analysts warn that the risk of further unrest remains high.
