Cameroon on Edge: Election results spark violence, death, opposition leader claims victory, govt pushes back
Security forces take position during clashes with supporters of presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma in Garoua, Cameroon, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
A young teacher was Tuesday shot and killed in Garoua, Cameroon, during chaotic demonstrations. The bullet was reportedly fired by a police officer as the tensions between President Paul Biya and opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma, meanwhile approach new levels.
Zouhairatou Hassana, the young teacher, is the first victim of the post-election chaos in Cameroon. She died when she was shot by a police officer during demonstrations on Tuesday in Garoua, following a high-tension presidential election in the country, neighbours said.
Cameroon is currently still waiting for results of the vote, which are set to be officially released on Thursday, 23 October.
Cameroon’s national election commission has already released preliminary numbers, designating Biya, Africa’s oldest and one of the longest-serving heads of state, as the winner with a little more than 53% of the votes. Tchiroma received 35.19 % of the votes.
Exclusive information obtained by Francophone magazine, Jeune Afrique, revealed that President Biya offered the position of Prime Minister to Tchiroma while definitive results were still to be released. Tchiroma however refused the offer, disclosed the report.
The opposition candidate has instead criticised the results and cast doubts over the veracity of the percentages released by the commission.
Paul Biya has been President of Cameroon since 1982. He is harshly criticised for his autocratic regime and for clinging to power.
