Cameroon’s opposition coalition has declared victory in the presidential election, asserting that its candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary won by a large margin, even as official results remain pending.
Tchiroma, once minister of employment and vocational training under longtime ruler Paul Biya, “inflicted a crushing defeat” on the 92-year-old incumbent, the Union for Change 2025 said late Sunday.
The coalition cited vote tallies from across Cameroon and its diaspora, claiming Tchiroma secured between 60% and 80% of the vote in Sunday’s polls.
In a defiant statement, the coalition urged Biya to “congratulate the winner,” called on authorities to “respect the will of the people,” and appealed to citizens to “remain mobilized to defend their victory.”
The official electoral body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), has not yet released preliminary or final results, leaving the nation in suspense as tensions quietly build.
If verified, Tchiroma’s victory would mark the end of more than four decades of Biya’s rule, ushering in Cameroon’s third presidency since independence.
Biya, the world’s oldest and longest-serving elected leader, has held power since 1982, shaping a political landscape defined by endurance and tight control.
The opposition’s early declaration adds a dramatic layer to the unfolding political moment, hinting at a potential turning point in Cameroon’s modern history.
Observers await ELECAM’s announcement, which will determine whether the opposition’s bold claims mark a historic transition or another episode in the country’s long contest between hope and authority.