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Cameroon's Biya begins eighth term after contested election
Paul Biya, Cameroon's 92-year-old president, was inaugurated for another seven-year term on Thursday in a ceremony at the parliament in Yaoundé, extending his 43-year rule amid ongoing disputes over last month's election results.
Disputed victory and opposition claims
Biya, the world's oldest sitting head of state, secured 54% of the vote in the October election, according to official tallies. His closest rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, received 35% and has repeatedly asserted he was the rightful winner, alleging widespread fraud-a claim authorities have dismissed.
Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister who defected from Biya's camp to challenge him, declined to file a formal complaint but called for civil resistance. A stay-at-home protest he organized earlier this week saw empty streets in his strongholds of Garoua and Douala.
Post-election violence and contested toll
The announcement of Biya's victory triggered deadly unrest. While authorities reported four fatalities, Reuters cited two U.N. sources placing the death toll at 48. The Constitutional Council rejected eight election-related complaints, citing insufficient evidence or jurisdictional limits.
Biya's low-key campaign
During the election, Biya addressed just one campaign rally, maintaining a characteristically low public profile. His re-election marks his eighth term since taking office in 1982.
