A day before the results of the contested presidential election were announced, hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces in several cities across Cameroon.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons at supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary in the northern city of Garoua.
The protesters They accused the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of plotting to ‘steal victory’ from the opposition leader.
Tchiroma Bakary claimed victory in the October 12 presidential election as he challenged 43-year-old incumbent President Paul Biya to take power. The CPDM party rejected these claims.
The protests came after Tchiroma Bakary called on his domestic supporters and the diaspora to march peacefully to “liberate Cameroon”.
Authorities have banned gatherings until Monday, when Cameroon’s Constitutional Council will announce its results.
In Garoua, protests started peacefully but quickly turned raucous, with security forces throwing tear gas into the streets to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered in support of Tchiroma Bakary.
“We are not here for disorder. We are demanding ballot integrity,” the placard said.
One protester was seen holding a banner urging US President Donald Trump to help them.
“We are here to claim victory. We are marching in peace, the civil rights of all Cameroonians,” said another protester.
Supporters also took to the streets in the southwestern city of Douala. Protesters chanted, “We want Chiroma, we want Chiroma,” according to Reuters.
Tchiroma Bakary previously told the BBC he would not accept stolen votes.
He said his team compiled the overall picture based on results from individual polling places.
In a video statement posted on social media, Ciroma Bakari said she won the election with about 55% of the vote, based on votes representing 80% of the electorate.
The 76-year-old former government minister swapped ranks with Biya, 92, who is seeking re-election after 43 years in power.
The CPDM dismissed Tchiroma Bakary’s claim of victory, and several officials described it as illegitimate because only the constitutional committee can announce official results.
Opposition supporters have claimed that the October 12 polls were marred by irregularities, including ballot stuffing.
Constitutional Council judges dismissed eight petitions, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing or lack of jurisdiction to invalidate the results.
Tchiroma Bakary refused to file his complaint with the parliament, where Biya appointed the judges, and instead decided to declare himself the “legitimate and lawful president.”
Born in Garoua, Tchiroma Bakary trained as an engineer in France before returning to Cameroon to work for the national railway company.
In 1984, he was imprisoned for his involvement in an attempt to oust President Biya. Despite denying the charges and not being found guilty, Tchiroma Bakary spent six years in prison.
He also served as Minister of Communications from 2009 to 2019.
In this role and as government spokesman, he staunchly defended Biya’s government when the military was accused of killing civilians during crises such as the Boko Haram insurgency.
But in June, just four months before the general election, Tchiroma Bakary dramatically changed course, resigning from government and announcing that he would contest Biya in the presidential election.
