Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala, has descended into chaos for a second straight day as protests intensify over President Paul Biya’s controversial re-election to an unprecedented eighth term. The 92-year-old, who has ruled the country since 1982, was officially declared the winner by the Constitutional Council on Monday, triggering a wave of unrest and frustration among citizens. Demonstrators erected barricades, burned tires, and clashed with security forces across several neighborhoods. Witnesses reported live gunfire, looting, and property destruction as police and army units were deployed to restore order. The city’s commercial activity ground to a halt, with businesses shuttered and public transport suspended.
“This result crushed me,” said Max Ndongmo, a resident of Douala. “It’s hypocrisy. We have been under the same leadership for more than 40 years, and people are tired. This country needs a change.” Biya’s victory, announced amid widespread claims of vote manipulation and intimidation, gave him another seven-year mandate. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary immediately rejected the results, calling them a “mockery of democracy” and urging for calm protests to demand transparency.
International observers and local civil society groups have raised concerns over the credibility of the election, citing limited opposition participation, voter suppression, and restricted media coverage. The government has yet to comment on the growing unrest, but officials have warned against “any attempt to destabilize national peace.” With Biya now extending his rule into a fifth decade, analysts warn that Cameroon faces a deepening crisis of legitimacy and growing tension between an aging political elite and a restless younger population demanding reform.
