In brief
Cameroon is currently counting votes following a presidential election where incumbent Paul Biya is looking to secure his eighth term. Amid claims of electoral suppression, the Interior Minister reported a generally hitch-free voting process, though tensions have escalated in certain regions, with clashes reported in the north. The results are anticipated within 15 days, as Biya faces nine challengers, amid calls for boycotts in some parts of the country.
Vote counting is under way in Cameroon following Sunday's presidential election in which incumbent Paul Biya is seeking to extend his 43 years in power.
Biya, who at 92 is the world's oldest head of state, is being challenged by nine candidates. If he wins, it will be his eighth consecutive term in office, with the next election due in 2032.
Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji said that voting took place 'hitch-free' across the country. However, there was a call for a boycott in the English-speaking regions in the west, and reports of clashes have surfaced in the north.
The final result should be known within 15 days of the vote.
In the run-up to the election, there were complaints from the opposition about attempts to suppress their support.
In August, the Constitutional Council barred 71-year-old Maurice Kamto, widely viewed as the main challenger, from participating.
On Sunday, angry supporters of leading opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, took to the streets in his stronghold of Garoua, clashing with security forces who fired tear gas after his residence was cordoned off.
Despite the tensions, Minister Nji claimed that polls were conducted without major incidents across all regions. However, he addressed rumors of candidates trying to publish unofficial results ahead of the official declaration, cautioned against such actions.
The voting process in the two restive Anglophone regions, where separatists attempted to prevent residents from voting, saw some turnout despite fears of reprisals.
