Deaths Reported as Cameroon Protests Escalate Before Election Results

Tensions have surged in Cameroon after at least four people died in clashes during protests in Douala and other cities, just days before authorities are due to release official election results. The unrest followed opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s declaration of victory in the October 12 presidential vote, directly challenging President Paul Biya’s long tenure. Demonstrations defying a government ban on public gatherings quickly turned violent as security forces confronted demonstrators.

Governor Samuel Dieudonné Diboua confirmed the fatalities and described the incidents as "planned acts of violence," promising firm measures against those responsible. Police officers were also reported injured after crowds attacked security posts in Douala. Despite the prohibition on protests, hundreds of Bakary supporters filled streets, chanting slogans and holding placards demanding that their ballots be honoured as tear gas spread through the area.

In Garoua, a key base for Bakary, authorities deployed tear gas and water cannon to break up crowds accusing the ruling CPDM of trying to overturn the vote. The unrest followed a video posted by Tchiroma Bakary in which he declared himself the "legal and legitimate president," saying his camp had counted roughly 80% of ballots and that he had about 55% of the vote. The claim energized his backers and deepened national divisions.

The opposition has alleged multiple voting irregularities, including ballot-stuffing and intimidation at polling stations, while the constitutional council, largely seen as aligned with President Biya, rejected eight challenges to the results. Officials have prohibited public gatherings until Monday, when the formal outcome is due. Nonetheless, Bakary’s followers have continued to protest and have appealed for international attention, with some placards calling on global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, to intervene.

Tchiroma Bakary’s political trajectory is notable: formerly a minister and government spokesperson between 2009 and 2019, he broke with the ruling establishment in June 2025 to run for the presidency. Now 76, the Garoua-born engineer studied in France and has a complex past that includes a 1984 imprisonment on accusations of plotting against President Biya, spending six years behind bars without conviction.

The demonstrations have left cities on edge, with an increased security presence in Douala and Garoua and reports of further protests planned. Observers warn that Monday’s official announcement could spark another round of unrest if it conflicts with the opposition’s claims, raising concerns about a wider escalation if both sides remain intransigent.

For many Cameroonians, the protests reflect a broader demand for change after more than four decades under the same leader. As one demonstrator put it, "We are here to assert our victory and push for a new Cameroon that includes everyone."