Cameroon’s opposition continues to reject the outcome of the recent presidential election. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the runner-up in the presidential race, has issued a public 48-hour ultimatum to authorities.
He demands the release of all individuals arrested during the protests that erupted following the re-election of Paul Biya.
In a video statement shared on social media on Sunday, Tchiroma made severe accusations against the government. He charged the administration with engaging in “state gangsterism and state terrorism.”
Demand to Halt Alleged ‘Ethnic Purges’
Tchiroma also demanded that authorities immediately halt practices he alleged include “ethnic purges.”
“The Cameroonian people no longer want them, the Cameroonian people can no longer tolerate them,” he asserted.
Official results declared Tchiroma finished second in the presidential election with 35.19% of the vote. This placed him behind Paul Biya, who secured 53.66%.
Despite the official ruling, the opposition leader maintains that he is the rightful president-elect of Cameroon.
Tchiroma is believed to have departed Cameroon for Nigeria shortly after the election results were announced. Since then, he has consistently called on the Cameroonian people to demonstrate against the alleged electoral fraud, including supporting “ghost town” protests where businesses close in defiance.
Violence and Biya’s Call for Order
The post-election demonstrations were met with a harsh crackdown by security forces. Data compiled from two United Nations sources estimates that 48 civilians were killed during the protests. The government, conversely, has reported at least five fatalities.
Paul Biya was officially sworn into office on Thursday. He used his inaugural address to appeal for an end to the violence.
- Appeal for Responsibility: “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,” Biya said.
- Warning Against Crisis: He stressed the danger of internal conflict: “Cameroon does not need a post-election crisis with potentially dramatic consequences, as has been seen elsewhere.”
If his 48-hour ultimatum is ignored, Tchiroma warned the authorities that the Cameroonian people “will feel free not only to protect themselves but also to do everything possible to protect their children and recover them wherever they are.”
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