Protests Erupt in Cameroon After 92-Year-Old Paul Biya Wins Eighth Term

Protests have broken out across Cameroon following the reelection of President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, who secured an eighth term in office at the age of 92.

Security forces fired tear gas and dispersed crowds in the capital, Yaoundé, as demonstrators took to the streets to reject the results announced by the country’s Constitutional Council. Witnesses reported that police targeted protesters wearing masks or attempting to conceal their faces, while normally busy streets were left deserted.

According to official results, Biya won 53.66% of the vote, defeating his former ally Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who received 35.19%. The outcome extends Biya’s rule for another seven years, potentially keeping him in power until he is nearly 100 years old.

Opposition supporters have alleged widespread irregularities and intimidation during the vote, claims the government has dismissed as unfounded. The election, marred by violence in parts of the country’s anglophone regions, has drawn concern from international observers who called for restraint and dialogue.

Biya, who first took office in 1982, has maintained tight control over the Central African nation for more than four decades. His continued leadership has long sparked debate over governance, succession, and democratic freedoms in Cameroon.