Cameroon’s Paul Biya, 92, re-elected for an eighth term

• Paul Biya, the 92-year-old president, secured a controversial eighth term in office with 53.7% of the vote, according to official results.
• The re-election announcement follows fatal clashes in Douala, where security forces reportedly fired live ammunition at supporters of the opposition.
• Rival Issa Tchiroma Bakary has rejected the result, having claimed victory himself and calling for demonstrations against what critics term a rigged system.

President Paul Biya has secured an eighth term in office, according to official results announced by the Constitutional Council on Monday. The 92-year-old, who is the world’s oldest serving head of state, was re-elected with 53.7% of the vote.

The victory for Biya, who has ruled the Central African nation with an iron fist since 1982, comes amidst a backdrop of violent protests and claims of electoral fraud from the opposition.

Rival candidate and former government minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, came second with 35.2%.

However, Tchiroma had declared himself the winner just two days after the 12 October election, claiming his own tally showed him securing 54.8% against Biya’s 31.3%.