The President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting leader, secured an eighth term in Mondayaccording to the results of electionsan event that caused conflicts between security forces and opposition supporters, who claim the vote was rigged.

Supporters of the opposition candidate Isa Chiroma Bakariarmed with bats and stones, blocked roads with debris and burnt tires in the central African country’s financial capital, Douala.

The police used tear gas against the gathered, who wore masks or tried to cover their faces with clothes. Elsewhere in the city, streets usually bustling with motorbikes were deserted.

Biya, 92, with a new term that could keep him in power until 99, said the people had once again shown confidence in his leadership and expressed sadness over the violence, in a statement posted on social media platform X.

“My first thoughts are with all those who lost their lives unjustly, as well as their families, as a result of the post-election violenceBia said. The government rejected the opposition’s accusations of irregularities.

Official results released on Monday showed Biya winning the October 12 election with a comfortable 53.66% to Chiroma’s 35.19%.

Chiroma had claimed victory last week and said he would not accept any other result. Protests broke out in several cities after some early results showed Biya on his way to victory. The government invited the citizens to wait for the results.

Over the weekend, four people were killed in clashes in Douala, according to the opposition. “We expect unrest to escalate as Cameroonians widely reject the official result, and we don’t see the Biya government holding out much longersaid Francois Conradi, chief political economist at Oxford Economics.

Chiroma said on Facebook that shooting at civilians outside his home in the northern city of Garoua killed two people on Monday. Reuters could not independently confirm its claim or who opened fire.

“We all know that the majority of the people of Cameroon voted for Issa Chiroma Bakari,” said one protester in Douala. “It is inconceivable that President Paul Biya won in certain war zones.”

Riot police patrolled the streets and shops remained closed.

“Biya now has a visibly fragile mandate as many of his own citizens do not believe he won the electionMuriti Mutiga, director of the Africa Program at the International Crisis Group, told Reuters.

“We call on Biya to urgently launch a national mediation to prevent further escalation,” Mutiga added.

The ally turned adversary

Biya assumed the presidency in 1982 and has held a tight rein on power ever since, abolishing term limits in 2008 and comfortably winning subsequent election contests.

Cameroon’s aging president is no exception in the region, where some of the world’s youngest populations are ruled by leaders over 80.

Togo’s president is 86. Ivory Coast’s president, expected to win last week’s election, is 83.

The opposition says voters in Cameroon are hungry for change after more than four decades of Biya’s rule, during which economic growth in the oil- and cocoa-producing nation has stalled.

Even Bia’s daughter Brenda posted a TikTok video — which has since been deleted — urging voters not to elect her father.

Chiroma, in his seventh decade, is a former government spokesman and labor minister who defected from Biya earlier this year.

His transformation from ally to opposition leader and presidential contender is one of the most impressive political turnarounds in Cameroon’s recent history.

His election campaign gathered large crowds and support from an alliance of opposition parties and social actors.