Cameroon’s ruling party has reported that one of its regional offices was deliberately torched, heightening tensions across the country amid growing allegations of electoral fraud following the October 12 presidential election.
According to party officials, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) office in the western city of Dschang was set on fire late Wednesday night. In a statement released Thursday, the party’s secretary general, Jean Nkuete, confirmed the incident and vowed accountability, saying the CPDM would “initiate legal action against the individuals found guilty of the fire.”
Videos showing the blaze engulfing the building quickly spread across social media and were aired by local news outlets, amplifying public unrest.
The attack comes as political tensions continue to mount in the aftermath of the vote. Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared himself the winner even before the official results were released, calling on President Paul Biya, 92, to step down. Biya, Africa’s oldest sitting president, has led Cameroon since 1982.
READ ALSO: “Our victory is clear” – Tchiroma proclaims win in Cameroon’s presidential election
In response, Biya’s party dismissed Tchiroma’s declaration as an attempt to “disrupt the electoral process.” The Constitutional Court is expected to publish the final results by October 26.
Tchiroma renewed his fraud allegations on Wednesday, claiming there were “clear signs of vote tampering.” His assertions align with earlier reports from civil society groups, which cited “several irregularities” such as attempted ballot stuffing.
As anger over the disputed vote spread, protests occurred across several cities on Wednesday night. In Douala, the nation’s commercial hub, demonstrators blocked major roads and set barricades on fire, prompting riot police to disperse them with tear gas and water cannons. No injuries or fatalities have been confirmed, AP reported.
Some protesters also gathered outside the headquarters of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the country’s independent election commission. Sylyac Marie Mvogo, the Prefect of Wouri, said a number of people were arrested after allegedly trying to break into the building and attacking staff.
“We don’t want people taking the law into their own hands; there are competent authorities responsible for handling election matters,” Mvogo told state broadcaster CRTV.
READ ALSO: At 92, Paul Biya launches campaign to extend 43-year rule in Cameroon’s presidential race
Analysts note that Biya remains the frontrunner, largely because the opposition is fractured and one of his most formidable challengers was disqualified ahead of the vote. Eleven candidates were ultimately cleared to contest the October 12 poll.
Tchiroma, now in his late seventies, previously served in Biya’s administration as a government spokesperson and minister of employment before resigning last year to pursue his presidential bid. His campaign drew widespread attention and backing from a coalition of smaller opposition parties and civic movements.
For over four decades, Biya has ruled a country of nearly 30 million people, presiding over both progress and persistent turmoil. Cameroon has endured corruption scandals, slow economic growth despite its oil and mineral wealth, and ongoing violence from separatist groups in the western regions.
