Cameroon’s long-serving leader, President Paul Biya, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election with 53.66% of the vote, extending his decades-long rule until 2032, according to official results released by the Constitutional Council on Monday.

His closest challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister, finished second with 35.2%. Tchiroma had prematurely claimed victory just two days after the October 12 polls, insisting that figures compiled by his team placed him ahead of the incumbent—a claim Biya’s camp swiftly dismissed.

Biya, 92, has been in power since 1982, making him the world’s oldest sitting president. His latest victory cements over four decades of leadership in the Central African nation of nearly 30 million people.

However, the announcement was marred by violence and growing unrest. A day before the results were made public, four protesters were shot dead in Douala, Cameroon’s economic hub, as hundreds took to the streets denouncing alleged electoral fraud.

Authorities confirmed that more than 100 people were arrested, while several members of the security forces sustained injuries during clashes. Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, governor of the Littoral Region, said 105 protesters were detained in connection with the disturbances.

Footage circulating on social media showed scenes of chaos as demonstrators clashed with police, who fired tear gas to disperse crowds blocking major roads in Douala, Garoua, and Maroua.

In the days leading up to the election, security forces arrested dozens of opposition activists and leaders, amid government warnings of “planned acts of violence”. Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji told reporters on Saturday that authorities had foiled attempts by certain groups to disrupt public order.

The tense political atmosphere reflects mounting frustration among Cameroon’s younger population and opposition groups, many of whom had opposed Biya’s decision to run again after more than 42 years in power.

As the country braces for the next phase of his presidency, concerns remain high about governance, human rights, and political freedom under one of Africa’s longest-reigning leaders.