标签： Africa

As Tanzania approaches its presidential election on Wednesday, the absence of significant opposition candidates has transformed the event into what many perceive as a coronation for President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The 65-year-old leader, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli, faces her first electoral test. While initially hailed as a reformist, her tenure has been marked by a tightening grip on dissent and a shrinking political landscape.

In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, at least two protesters were fatally shot by security forces in Cameroon on Sunday as opposition supporters took to the streets to demand transparency in the recent presidential election. The unrest unfolded in multiple cities, including the economic hub of Douala, where clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement turned violent. The opposition, led by candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, alleges that President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, rigged the October 12 election to secure his reelection. Cameroon’s constitutional council is set to announce the final results on Monday, but the opposition has already dismissed the process as fraudulent. Videos circulating online depict chaotic scenes of tear gas being deployed and protesters barricading major roads in cities like Garoua and Maroua. Authorities have remained silent on the reported deaths, which were confirmed by the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy party but could not be independently verified by The Associated Press. Meanwhile, dozens of opposition supporters and activists have been arrested in recent days, with the government accusing them of plotting violent attacks. One protester, Oumarou Bouba, a 27-year-old trader from Maroua, expressed his determination to defend his vote, stating, ‘I am ready to stake my life for change.’ The election has deepened divisions in Cameroon, a nation of nearly 30 million people, with many criticizing Biya, the world’s oldest leader at 92, for seeking another term after nearly half a century in power. The opposition has also accused him of sidelining his strongest rival and manipulating state resources to tilt the election in his favor.

Tensions have escalated across Cameroon as supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary clashed with security forces in multiple cities, just a day before the official announcement of the presidential election results. The protests, which began in Bakary’s stronghold of Garoua in northern Cameroon, saw police deploying tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. Demonstrators accused the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of attempting to ‘steal the victory’ from Bakary, who claims to have won the October 12 election with approximately 55% of the vote. Incumbent President Paul Biya, who has held power for 43 years, seeks another term, but Bakary has dismissed the CPDM’s claims as illegitimate. Authorities have banned public gatherings until Monday, when the constitutional council is expected to announce the results. The protests, initially peaceful, turned chaotic as security forces intervened. In Douala, another major city, demonstrators chanted support for Bakary, demanding transparency in the electoral process. Bakary, a former government minister and Biya ally, dramatically shifted his stance earlier this year, resigning from the government to challenge Biya. He has refused to file complaints with the constitutional council, whose judges are appointed by Biya, instead declaring himself the ‘legal and legitimate president.’ The election has been marred by allegations of irregularities, including ballot-stuffing, which the constitutional council has dismissed due to insufficient evidence. The unrest underscores deep political divisions in Cameroon, with Bakary’s supporters vowing to continue their fight for electoral justice.