By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, Cameroon – At least 20 people have been arrested in Cameroon in connection with protests over the October 12 presidential election, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as tension continues to mount ahead of the official proclamation of results expected on Thursday.
In a statement released Tuesday, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji said security forces had arrested several individuals involved in demonstrations in the northern city of Garoua, adding that 20 of them will be brought before military courts to face charges of insurrection and incitement to rebellion. Others accused of criminal activities have been transferred to Yaoundé for further investigation.
“The government watches with concern acts of provocation and disorder carried out by some troublemakers,” Minister Atanga Nji said, accusing the protesters of being manipulated by certain political actors seeking to destabilise the country.
The arrests come amid growing political tension following opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s declaration of victory last week. Tchiroma, who previously served as Government Spokesperson and Minister of Employment and Vocational Training under President Paul Biya, has urged the 92-year-old leader to concede defeat, a call that has been swiftly rejected by the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).
The ruling party dismissed Tchiroma’s claim as “irresponsible and misleading,” accusing him of attempting to undermine the electoral process. The Constitutional Council is expected to announce the final official results this Thursday.
Political analysts predict a likely victory for President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, as the opposition entered the race deeply divided and one of its strongest challengers was barred from running in August. Eleven opposition candidates ultimately appeared on the ballot.
Following the vote, pockets of protests erupted in several cities over allegations of election fraud. Issa Tchiroma Bakary and his supporters have accused election officials of vote tampering and ballot stuffing, claims that echo findings by civil society observers.
The National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), which monitored the election, reported several irregularities, including the relocation of polling stations, failure to update the electoral register, and the presence of deceased persons’ names on voter lists. A coalition of eight civil society groups also cited unequal distribution of ballot papers and attempts at ballot box stuffing in some polling stations.
Despite warnings from authorities, Tchiroma began publishing on Sunday what he described as results from 18 administrative units, allegedly covering 80% of the electorate, claiming these figures confirmed his victory. His Facebook posts have drawn praise from supporters and ridicule from government allies, who question their credibility.
Now in his late 70s, Issa Tchiroma Bakary broke away from Biya’s government and launched his presidential campaign, which drew large crowds and backing from a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organisations.
President Biya, one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders, has governed Cameroon for 43 years, overseeing a nation grappling with persistent challenges from an ongoing secessionist conflict in the North West and South West regions to chronic corruption that has hampered growth despite the country’s rich natural resources.
With the Constitutional Council expected to declare the final results, security forces have been deployed across major cities, with authorities urging citizens to remain calm and law-abiding.
