Cameroon’s highest court dismisses election appeals as violence erupts in the northern region

Full results will be announced as security forces and opposition supporters clash in the north after Cameroon’s constitutional council on Wednesday rejected all petitions challenging the October 12 presidential election.

The Central African nation’s capital and other cities have seen protests over purported election violations as President Paul Biya, 92, is apparently set to serve an eighth term in power.

Ten petitions alleging voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, and other irregularities were denied by the council, which cited a lack of authority or insufficient evidence to declare the election void. It makes definitive decisions that cannot be challenged.

Former Biya ally Issa Tchiroma, who is currently in the opposition, stated on his official campaign page that he received 54.8% of the vote, which is equivalent to 80% of the total vote.

In addition to threatening to not accept any other outcome, he had declined to file a petition to the council.

“The Constitutional Council will be complicit in a breach of trust if it announces truncated and fabricated results… In a Facebook video posted on Wednesday, he stated that he was amenable to a peaceful transition and that the people would not tolerate it.

Allegations of vote-rigging have been denied by the government, which has advised citizens to await the outcome.

Following the release of preliminary results by local media that indicated Biya, the oldest head of state in history, was expected to win, sporadic protests broke out in a number of locations.

He might hold onto power for another seven years, until he is around 100 years old.

Security personnel and Tchiroma supporters clashed in the northern cities of Maroua and Garoua on Wednesday.

In Garoua, videos circulated online showed demonstrators shouting and chanting Tchiroma’s name while riding motorcycles and carrying signs. Reuters has not verified if the videos are real.

Family members told local media that a teacher was killed Tuesday after being struck by stray gunshots during similar protests in Garoua. Classes at the University of Garoua have been halted until Friday as a precaution.

Protesters and security guards engaged in combat Wednesday in Maroua, in the Far North, as the cops hurled tear gas canisters.