Four dead in Cameroon as police violently repress protestors over bitterly contested election

Four people have been killed in Cameroon amid protest over a contested national election. Supporters of presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary had pushed ahead with protests despite a ban. Bakary claims he won the election against president Paul Biya. Biya’s party deny the allegations and the 92 year old has since claimed victory.

Human Right’s Watch (HRW) have since called for the government to:

…rein in their security forces, promptly and impartially investigate the excessive use of force, and release all those wrongfully held.

Amnesty International called for proper investigations into the deaths:

Authorities must respect, protect and facilitate people’s right of peaceful assembly.

There must be a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the deaths.#ProtectTheProtest pic.twitter.com/oXn1le746E

— Amnesty International (@amnesty) October 27, 2025

Africa News published images of the unrest as Biya started his 8th term as president – having been in power for 43 years:

Stills and footage appeared to show police beating civilians and buildings on fire amid the protests:

🔴CAMEROON 🇨🇲| #Post-election crisis: angry protests erupted across the country after the official announcement of the presidential election results, which confirmed #PaulBiya, 43 years in post, as the winner again. Clashes with security forces are being reported across Cameroon. pic.twitter.com/JEpiF6u030

— Nanana365 (@nanana365media) October 28, 2025

Africa News interviewed angry voters who questioned what value democracy had in Cameroon:

These residents in Cameroon's economic capital, Douala, explain their anger at the Constitutional Council's declaration of Paul Biya as the winner of the recent presidential elections, with one saying that: 'Perhaps Cameroonians should no longer vote.' pic.twitter.com/YoxYuHQ2uj

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) October 28, 2025

But as early as 24 October, Bakary has also declared himself the winner:

Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared himself the winner of the Cameroonian presidential election. However, the government has condemned his move as illegal, urging citizens to remain patient as official results are tallied, the results are to be announced on Monday. pic.twitter.com/RQLwMzmvNm

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) October 24, 2025

Electoral fraud allegations

There are unverified allegations of widespread electoral fraud. One open source account said there had been ballot stuffing and voting stations had been closed off:

About today's elections in Cameroon, there is open fraud all over the country, even abroad, some embassies are not letting Cameroonians vote, in Cameroon several cases of ballot stuffing were documented and voting stations were closed off, the internet is also slowing down. https://t.co/0P0dhjPWbI

— Brant (@BrantPhilip_) October 12, 2025

A spokesperson for UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned by post-electoral violence and by reports of excessive use of force”. The spokesperson continued:

He [Guterres] deplores the loss of life and injuries among both protesters and security forces and extends his condolences to the families of the victims. He calls for a thorough and impartial investigation into these incidents.

And the UN human rights office said it was shocked at the killings:

#Cameroon: We’ve been receiving shocking reports of people killed, injured or arrested since yesterday in protests linked to today's announcement of the presidential election results. We call for restraint, investigations and an end to the violence.

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) October 27, 2025

There are also reports that the incumbent government will take Bakary to court:

Cameroon’s government has announced plans to take opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary to court over allegations of inciting violent protests following the country’s presidential election.https://t.co/QCzaFQ3chP#aantelevision

— African Affairs Network TV (@aantelevision) October 29, 2025

And, as recently as 28 October, government buildings were being attacked:

Last night, protests in Cameroon took on an avalanche-like character, with protesters setting fire to numerous administrative buildings across the country, including electoral commission buildings (ELECAM institutions), post offices, prefectures, and police stations

Before this,… pic.twitter.com/3trZ3qcGkG

— Sprinter Press News (@SprinterPress) October 29, 2025

The African Union (AN) also called for dialogue:

Chairperson of the African Union Commission congratulates H.E. President Paul Biya on re-election and calls for national dialogue in the Republic of #Cameroon.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, notes the official proclamation by the… pic.twitter.com/lhuEHzDSpq

— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) October 28, 2025

Reuters has reported that Biya won over 53% percent of votes. But it seems dissent against decades-long rule, on a young continent where 60% of people are under 25, is unlikely to fade into silence just yet.

Featured image via the Canary