Cameroon - October 2025

Incumbent President Paul Biya of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (Rassemblement démocratique du Peuple Camerounais, RDPC) won Cameroon’s presidential election, held on 12 October, extending his rule to an eighth consecutive term. According to official results, Biya won 53.7 per cent of votes, ahead of Issa Tchiroma of the Cameroon National Salvation (Front pour le salut national du Cameroun, FSNC) with 35.2 per cent. Of the 12 candidates that contested the election, only one was a woman. Prominent opposition leader, Maurice Kamto was disqualified after the Constitutional Council rejected his candidacy in favour of a rival from the same party. Turnout was 57.8 per cent of the registered voters (up from 53.9 per cent in 2018). Several candidates disputed various aspects of the election and widespread perceptions of fraud among opposition supporters sparked violence. However, the Constitutional Council rejected all petitions challenging the poll and (in contrast to domestic monitors) observers from the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States found it to have been ‘conducted largely in accordance with…international standards.’     

Sources: The Constitutional Council of Cameroon, Africa Confidential, Jeune Afrique,  International IDEA, Pan African Visions   

At least 48 people were killed and hundreds arrested, as security agencies responded forcefully to opposition supporters protesting Cameroon’s disputed presidential election. Demonstrations broke out across several cities shortly after polling on 12 October, as supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma perceived the election was being rigged against Tchiroma, who had pre-emptively claimed victory. They intensified when incumbent Paul Biya was later officially declared to have won. Most of the civilians killed by the security agencies were shot or beaten. Some protesters were also violent, assaulting the police and gendarmes, looting and vandalising symbols of authority. At least three gendarmes died in the violence. Among those arrested were several opposition politicians. While post-electoral violence is not uncommon in Cameroon, the scale of the protests, fatalities and protester violence appear to set it apart from the unrest after the 2018 presidential election.           

Sources: International Crisis Group, Reuters, Human Rights Watch (1), Human Rights Watch (2), Africa Confidential, Associated Press News, Jeune Afrique