The contested election results sparked violent protests in Cameroon

A day before the results of a hotly contested presidential election are to be announced, hundreds of protesters have clashed with security forces in several cities in Cameroon.

In the northern city of Garouwa, police fired tear gas and water cannons at supporters of opposition candidate Issa Chiroma Bakri.

There were protesters He said the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), had a plan to “steal victory” from the opposition leader.

Tchiroma Bakri has insisted on winning the October 12 presidential election, challenging incumbent President Paul Biya’s 43-year hold on power. The CPDM party has rejected these claims.

The protests came after Tchiroma Bakri called on his supporters in the country and the diaspora to march peacefully to “liberate Cameroon”.

Authorities have banned gatherings until Monday as Cameroon’s constitutional council prepares to announce the results.

In Garoua, the protests began peacefully but quickly turned violent when security forces fired teargas canisters into the streets to disperse hundreds of people gathered in support of Tchiroma Bakri.

“We are not here to cause confusion. We are demanding the truth of the ballot,” the placard read.

A protester was seen holding a banner calling for help for US President Donald Trump.

“We are here to claim our victory. We are holding a peaceful march, which is the civil rights of all Cameroonians – for everyone,” said another protester.

Supporters also took to the streets in the southwestern city of Douala. “We want Tchiroma, we want Tchiroma,” protesters chanted, Reuters news agency reported.

Chiroma Bakery previously told the BBC That he will not accept a stolen vote.

He said his team has compiled an overall picture based on the results of individual polling stations.

In a video statement posted on social media, Tchiroma Bakri said he won the election with about 55% of the vote, based on returns representing 80% of the electorate.

The 76-year-old former government minister broke ties with Biya, 92, who is seeking another term after 43 years in power.

The CPDM has rejected Tchiroma Bakri’s claims of victory and many officials have described them as illegitimate as only the Constitutional Council can declare an official result.

Opposition supporters have alleged that the October 12 polls were marred by irregularities, including ballot stuffing.

Constitutional Council judges dismissed eight petitions citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or lack of jurisdiction to annul the verdict.

Tchiroma Bakri refused to file complaints with the council, which Judge Biya appointed, instead declaring himself the “legitimate and legitimate president”.

Born in Garoua, Tchiroma Bakri trained as an engineer in France before returning to Cameroon to work for the national railway company.

In 1984, he was imprisoned, accused of involvement in an attempt to overthrow President Biya. Despite denying the charges and never being convicted, Chiroma Bakri spent six years in prison.

He also served as Minister of Communications from 2009 to 2019.

In this role and as government spokesman, he held Biya’s government accountable during crises such as the Boko Haram insurgency, when the military was accused of massacring civilians.

But in June, just four months before the general election, Tchiroma Bakri made a dramatic turnaround, resigning from government and announcing that he would run against Biya for the presidency.