Ofure Akhigbe
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has called for calm and pledged to restore order as he was sworn in on Thursday, following a disputed election that sparked deadly unrest across the country.
Days of violent protests erupted after the announcement that Paul Biya, 92, had won an eighth term in office.
“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility. I’m addressing all those who are working to incite hatred and violence in our country, particularly some of our compatriots in the diaspora,” Paul Biya said during his inauguration ceremony in Yaounde. “Cameroon does not need a post-election crisis with potentially dramatic consequences, as has been seen elsewhere.”
The country’s top court declared Paul Biya the winner of the October 12 vote on October 27, with 53.66% of the ballots cast. His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally turned opponent, received 35.19%.
Opposition leaders and supporters have rejected the results, alleging widespread vote rigging and blaming Paul Biya’s long rule for the nation’s deepening political and economic problems.
Protests broke out in several cities after the announcement, leading to a three-day lockdown this week following Bakary’s claim of victory and accusations of electoral fraud.
According to two United Nations sources, 48 civilians were killed in the unrest, while the government reported five deaths. Witnesses described Yaounde as heavily militarised and partially deserted on the day of Paul Biya’s swearing-in.
In his speech, Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving ruler, accused “irresponsible politicians” and the diaspora of fuelling instability. He pledged to uphold the trust of the Cameroonian people and work toward a “united, stable and prosperous” nation.
Paul Biya, who first came to power in 1982 after the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, has ruled since, aided by a 2008 constitutional amendment that abolished term limits.
His decades-long tenure has been marked by both continuity and crisis — with ongoing armed insurgencies in the north and west, a stagnant economy, and growing disillusionment among the youth.
Speculation over Paul Biya’s health continues, as he reportedly spends extended periods in Europe while key government figures and family members handle state affairs, reinforcing perceptions that Paul Biya’s rule has left Cameroon divided and uncertain about its future.