Cameroon’s security forces killed 48 civilians during a crackdown on protests over President Paul Biya’s re-election, according to figures shared with Reuters on Tuesday by two United Nations sources.
Most victims were shot with live ammunition, while others died from injuries sustained after beatings with batons and sticks, the sources said.
The government has not released an official death toll and did not respond to a request for comment. Biya, in power since 1982 and the world’s oldest sitting head of state, was declared the winner last week with 53.66% of the vote, ahead of opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary on 35.19%. Tchiroma declared victory shortly after the Oct. 12 poll, and demonstrations erupted as early results indicated Biya would secure an eighth term.
Civil society group Stand Up for Cameroon said last week that at least 23 people had been killed in the security response to protests.
Nearly half of the UN-recorded deaths occurred in the Littoral region, including Douala, the port city that saw the most intense unrest. Three gendarmes were also killed in Douala, the UN data showed. Ten civilian deaths were recorded in the North region, whose capital Garoua is Tchiroma’s hometown.
Protests have eased this week. Tchiroma called a three-day national stay-at-home action starting Monday to signal opposition to the results. Biya is expected to be sworn in on Thursday.