Cameroon in Crisis: Deadly Protests Erupt After Paul Biya’s Controversial Reelection
Cameroon has been plunged into a state of crisis following the re-election of 92-year-old President Paul Biya for an eighth term. The announcement has ignited deadly street protests, drawn condemnation from the United Nations, and prompted the country's main opposition leader to flee. The unrest is fueled not just by the disputed result, but by decades of economic stagnation and a youth generation desperate for change.
A Contested Victory
The Constitutional Council officially declared President Paul Biya the winner of the October 12 presidential election, paving the way for his eighth term in office. Biya, who is 92, has ruled the country uninterrupted since 1982. The result was immediately contested by his main rival, opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who had already declared himself the rightful winner, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
Streets on Fire: The Violent Aftermath
The announcement triggered widespread and immediate anger. In Douala, the economic capital, as in many other cities, the aftermath was violent. Protesters erected barricades, set fires, and clashed with security forces. The afternoon was marked by pillaging, the destruction of public property, and the sound of live bullets, paralyzing the entire city.
The sentiment of many was captured by Douala resident Max Ndongmo: "I was crushed when I heard the news about the results... it was so shocking to me that I almost broke my TV. What they are doing is just hypocrisy. To this government, I want to say, I'm sorry, but you need to stop."
The protests were met with a heavy-handed response. Armed forces were deployed to several districts as the security situation degenerated. According to a local civil society group, **more than 20 people have been killed** in clashes between protesters and security forces since the results were declared, raising alarms both locally and internationally about the escalating violence.
Fuel for the Fire: Decades of Economic Despair
The anger on the streets is fueled by more than just a disputed election; it is the culmination of decades of deep economic crisis and frustration. Under President Biya's 40-year rule, industries, distribution networks, and small businesses have become paralyzed. "Everything is blocked, nothing works, it’s worse than before," testified one taxi driver, Pierre Chak.
According to economist Eugène Nyambal, the economic record under Biya is "negative," with failed policies that have crippled the nation's social and economic engine.
The crisis is felt most acutely by Cameroon's youth, who make up over 60% of the population. With youth unemployment soaring above 35%, a generation of well-educated young people sees no future in their own country. "Many well-educated young people want to leave Cameroon," Nyambal noted, a clear signal of widespread hopelessness. The primary challenge for any administration is to create jobs and restore a sense of opportunity to prevent the economic crisis from deepening further.
Political Fallout and International Alarm
The escalating violence has drawn a sharp condemnation from the United Nations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement urging restraint and respect for human rights: "We call on the security forces to refrain from the use of lethal force, and on the protesters to demonstrate peacefully. The authorities must fully abide by their obligations under international human rights law."
In a dramatic development, opposition leader **Issa Tchiroma Bakary**, who had declared himself the winner of the election, has reportedly fled Cameroon for neighboring Nigeria. His departure marks a significant escalation of the political crisis, leaving the opposition in disarray and heightening fears of a prolonged and unstable period for the country as President Biya prepares to begin his eighth term.
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