Cameroon’s government has updated the death toll from last month’s post-election protests, reporting that 16 people lost their lives and over 800 were arrested, according to officials speaking Wednesday.
However, estimates from two United Nations sources suggest that at least 48 civilians were killed during the demonstrations, while opposition groups have put the figure at 55, highlighting a significant discrepancy in official and independent counts.
The crackdown on protesters has drawn widespread international condemnation. Human Rights Watch accused Cameroonian police and gendarmes of using lethal force, committing killings, and arbitrarily detaining hundreds of people. The NGO reported that many protesters were shot dead, with dozens more suffering gunshot injuries, and noted that around 2,000 individuals remain in detention across the country, many without access to a judge.
The protests erupted following the announcement that President Paul Biya had secured an eighth term in office in the October 12 election, which opposition parties and supporters allege was rigged. At 92, Biya is the world’s oldest sitting head of state, and many young Cameroonians are calling for political change after more than four decades in power.
Opposition leader and Biya’s main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, maintains that he won the election and has refused to recognize what he describes as a “stolen vote,” vowing to challenge the results.
