Cameroonian authorities said 800 people were arrested and 16 killed following violent protests over President Paul Biya’s re-election. Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji reported security forces killed 13 protesters in Douala and three in the North Region during the unrest.
Opposition figures and Human Rights Watch suggest the death toll may be far higher, estimating at least 55 casualties nationwide. “The violent crackdown on protesters exposes a deepening pattern of repression overshadowing Cameroon’s latest election,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher.
She urged authorities to rein in security forces, investigate killings, and ensure political leaders call on supporters to reject violence. Protests erupted in opposition strongholds, including Douala and northern cities Maroua and Garoua, immediately after the Oct. 12 election results.
Official results declared Biya, 92, the winner, securing his eighth term in office, though the opposition has rejected the outcome. Rival Issa Tchiroma Bakary claims he won the election and has called on Cameroonians to reject the government’s declared victory.
Biya, Cameroon’s second president since independence in 1960, has been in power since 1982, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. Critics say his rare public appearances and advanced age have limited his capacity to govern effectively over the past decades.