Cameroon’s political landscape was upended Tuesday after opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary prematurely claimed victory in the presidential election, launching a direct challenge to the four-decade rule of incumbent Paul Biya.
With the official tally from Sunday’s vote not expected for up to two weeks, the former employment minister asserted that the will of the people was clear, creating a showdown with the government.
”Our victory is clear. It must be respected,” Tchiroma declared in a statement published on social media, according to reports. He further escalated the tension by warning the government of the potential for instability if his victory was not acknowledged.
Tchiroma called on authorities to “accept the truth of the ballot box” or otherwise risk “plunge the country into turmoil,” adding that his camp would release detailed regional results to back up the claim.
The declaration creates a crisis for the ruling party and the 92-year-old President Biya, who is seeking to extend his 43-year reign, making him the world’s oldest serving head of state.
Electoral law dictates that the country’s Constitutional Council is the sole body authorized to announce the final results. Authorities have previously warned that any attempt to pre-empt the constitutional body is a “red line that must not be crossed.”
The situation mirrors the events of the 2018 presidential contest, when challenger Maurice Kamto also claimed victory before the official results were released, resulting in his subsequent arrest and the forceful dispersal of supporter rallies.
