Tension has gripped Cameroon as authorities ordered a nationwide internet blackout just hours before the highly anticipated declaration of presidential election results scheduled for Monday. The move has sparked outrage and fear among citizens, as reports of violence, arrests, and government crackdowns continue to emerge across the country.
According to local reports, at least two people have been killed and dozens of protesters detained following demonstrations demanding transparency in the October 12 presidential election. The situation escalated over the weekend as security forces clashed with opposition supporters who accuse the government of manipulating the vote in favor of longtime President Paul Biya.
Two prominent opposition figures, Anicet Ekane and Djeukam Tchameni, were arrested late Friday in Douala. Both men are senior members of the Union for Change platform that supports opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Tchiroma has publicly declared victory and insists that the people of Cameroon have voted out President Biya. Members of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) confirmed that their treasurer and several activists were also arrested, describing the government’s actions as an attempt to “intimidate Cameroonians into silence.”
Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, defended the arrests, claiming that the opposition leaders were planning to use the protests as a disguise to launch terrorist attacks. He alleged that their goal was to infiltrate crowds and create chaos, which could then be blamed on the country’s security forces.
Preliminary results from the electoral commission (Elecam) suggest that President Paul Biya, who is now 92 years old and has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is expected to win another term with about 53 percent of the vote. Despite not personally attending campaign rallies, Biya’s image and party symbols dominated political gatherings across the country through posters and effigies. His likely victory, however, has been met with deep skepticism and anger among many citizens who accuse the government of staging a fraudulent process.
Public distrust in the electoral process has intensified after the Constitutional Council rejected ten separate petitions filed by opposition parties, all claiming massive irregularities during the voting and counting process. The council’s head, Clément Atangana, announced that official results will be published on October 27.
As frustration grows, protests have spread across major cities. In Bafoussam, hundreds of motorcyclists took to the streets demanding a fair outcome. In other regions, security forces used heavy-handed tactics to disperse crowds, leading to numerous arrests and at least one confirmed death.
One of the victims, identified as 30-year-old teacher Zairatou Hassana from Garoua, was reportedly killed while looking for her sister who had not returned home from school. Her grieving family blamed the government for the violence, saying her death symbolizes the pain and suffering that ordinary citizens have endured under Biya’s rule.
Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary took to Facebook on Friday, warning that he could soon be arrested. In his post, he stated that any attempt to detain him would be “an attack on the will of the Cameroonian people,” insisting that citizens are only asking the government to “respect their victory.”
The internet shutdown has further fueled fears of a wider crackdown aimed at silencing dissent and controlling information as the official results draw near. Many citizens remain cut off from communication platforms and social media, unable to share updates or verify reports from different regions.
Observers and human rights groups have condemned the government’s actions, warning that the blackout could worsen tensions and trigger more violence. With the world watching closely, Monday’s official announcement is expected to determine whether Cameroon steps toward democracy or sinks deeper into political repression under one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
The uncertainty has left millions anxious and frustrated, as the nation awaits to learn its fate in what many are calling the most controversial election in Cameroon’s history.