Rallies in Cameroon after rival rejects 92-year-old Biya’s win

HUNDREDS of Cameroonians took to the streets in protest this week after the world’s oldest head of state, Paul Biya, was proclaimed to have won an eighth term extending his more than four-decade rule.

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Biya, 92, was reelected with 53.7% of the vote in the central African country, according to official results announced by the Constitutional Council, while former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary came second with 35.2%.

Hundreds heeded Tchiroma’s call to rally against Biya in the economic capital Douala and his northern hometown of Garoua on Monday evening, despite restrictions, with security forces reportedly moving in to break up the latest demonstrations.

Similar demonstrations turned deadly over the weekend, with four people reported killed.

Tchiroma swiftly denounced the announcement of Biya’s win this week, saying that “there was no election; it was rather a masquerade. We won unequivocally”.