Description: Clashes between protesters and police forces erupted in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, after unofficial results of the presidential elections held on 12 Oct indicated widespread electoral fraud. Protesters demonstrated against the 92 – year old incumbent President Paul Biya who rules the country since 1982 and supported the oppositional candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, former government spokesperson and ally of Paul Biya. Sporadic demonstrations also occurred in other cities such as Bafoussam, Dschang, Kousserie and Douala, where demonstrations claimed the ruling Biya enforced nationwide electoral fraud to remain in power. Tchiroma claimed victory shortly after the election, posting official results from several parts of the country on his Facebook profile, a move heavily criticized by the opposition. Cameroon’s Constitutional Council is expected to announce the official results on 26 Oct.
Impact: The rapid escalation of demonstrations after the presidential election reflects the public dissatisfaction in Cameroon by Paul Biya’s 43 – year rule. The leader’s grasp on the country’s institutions during that time indicates that he would use the institutions to stifle the dissent from the election results which could in turn solicitate stronger public reactions and plunge the country into a wider scale of civil unrest. Cameroon’s oil and fast consuming commodities resource potential has been blocked and exponentially decreased by Biya’s rule which aims to extend his presidency until he is almost 100 years old. The clash between Biya’s large scale institutional control and the level of civil disapproval combined with accusations of electoral fraud position the country on a path towards civil and political crisis.