"Cameroon's longtime leader re-elected as world's oldest head of state"

Paul Biya Wins Eighth Term in Cameroon’s Election, Extending Decades-Long Rule

Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving leader, has been confirmed as the winner of Cameroon’s presidential election, securing an eighth term that could extend his rule until he is nearly 100 years old.

The constitutional council announced that Biya received 53.66% of the vote, while his former ally turned rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, obtained 35.19%.

Biya, now 92, came to power in 1982 and has maintained a firm hold on the presidency since then, abolishing term limits in 2008 and winning subsequent elections by significant margins.

Tensions have risen across Cameroon in recent weeks as the nation awaited official results. On Sunday, clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in Douala, the economic hub, left four people dead.

Tchiroma had declared victory days after the October 12 election, citing his own figures that showed him winning 54.8% of the vote compared to Biya’s 31.3%. His campaign asserted that their tally was compiled from results covering 80% of the electorate.

He warned of potential protests if the constitutional council released what he called “manipulated results.” The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement rejected his assertions, calling for patience until the official outcome was confirmed.

Unrest has been particularly intense in Garoua, Tchiroma’s hometown, where young men on motorcycles armed with makeshift weapons gathered near his residence amid fears of his possible arrest.

Demonstrations have also broken out in the capital, Yaoundé, as well as in Bafoussam and Douala, two of the country’s largest cities. In a social media post over the weekend, Tchiroma claimed security forces tried to enter his home to detain him.

Biya has ruled Cameroon since taking over from its first post-independence leader in 1982. His tenure has been marked by authoritarian control, suppression of dissent, and enduring economic and political challenges, including separatist conflicts.