Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, has won a controversial eighth term in office, extending his 43-year rule amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud and voter intimidation.
The country’s electoral body, ELECAM, announced on Monday that Biya, candidate of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), secured 71% of the vote in last week’s election. His main rival, Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), polled 19% but rejected the results, calling the election “a sham.”
Kamto accused the government of manipulating vote counts and using security forces to intimidate voters, particularly in the restive Anglophone regions. “The will of the people has been stolen,” he said, urging international intervention.
Biya, in power since 1982, is now the world’s oldest elected leader. His government has been repeatedly accused of repressing opposition voices and stifling media freedom.
Election observers from the African Union acknowledged “irregularities and logistical challenges” but stopped short of declaring the vote invalid. Western nations, including the U.S. and France, have called for transparency and calm.
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Supporters of the ruling party celebrated Biya’s victory in the capital, Yaoundé, calling it a win for “stability and continuity.” But turnout was dismal in the North-West and South-West regions, where separatist violence and security crackdowns kept many from voting.
Analysts warn that Biya’s renewed mandate could deepen political divisions and prolong Cameroon’s instability. “This result consolidates Biya’s power but also exposes the cracks in Cameroon’s democratic system,” said political analyst Eric Mbarga.
Biya is expected to be sworn in for another seven-year term in November.