Cameroon’s opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared victory in the country’s presidential election held on Sunday, challenging the decades-long rule of incumbent President Paul Biya.
In a video message posted on Facebook early Tuesday, Tchiroma proclaimed, “Our victory is clear. It must be respected,” and urged the government to “accept the truth of the ballot box” or risk plunging the country into turmoil.
He pledged to publish detailed regional results to support his claim, although official results are not expected until October 26, when the Constitutional Council is mandated to announce the final outcome.
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Tchiroma, a former government spokesman and longtime ally of Biya, resigned from the administration in June and launched a vigorous campaign backed by a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.
His rallies drew large crowds across the country, positioning him as the leading challenger to Biya’s 43-year rule.
The government, however, has cautioned against any unilateral declaration of victory.
Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji reiterated that only the Constitutional Council has the legal authority to announce the winner, warning that any attempt to publish unofficial results could be deemed “high treason”.
Cameroon’s electoral law permits the posting of results at individual polling stations, but final tallies must be validated by the Constitutional Council.
The body has until October 26 to complete the process, according to Reuters.
The situation has drawn comparisons to the 2018 presidential election, when opposition candidate Maurice Kamto also declared himself winner ahead of official results.
Kamto was later arrested, and his supporters faced violent dispersals by security forces.
President Biya, 92, is seeking an eighth term in office, making him the world’s oldest serving head of state.
His Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement has rejected Tchiroma’s declaration, stating that the opposition lacks verified data from polling stations.
As tensions rise, observers are closely monitoring developments amid calls for calm and adherence to constitutional procedures.
