Cameroon's 92-year-old president won a disputed eighth term in a bitter election.
Paul Biya, who is the world's oldest head of state, won 53.7% of the vote compared with 35.2% for opposition leader Issa Chiroma Bakari, the Constitutional Council said.
Before Chirom's announcement, Bakary – a former ally of Biya – had insisted he would win the election, but the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) rejected his claim.
The Oct. 12 election was marred by deadly violence, and hundreds of Tchiroma Bakari's supporters have defied protest bans in several cities and clashed with security forces in recent days.
Biya thanked voters for “renewing” their trust in him.
“It is my sincere hope that together we will resolutely commit ourselves to building a peaceful, united and prosperous Cameroon,” he said in a statement.
On Sunday, at least four people were killed during protests in Cameroon's economic capital Douala.
The region's governor, Samuel Dieudonné Dibois, said police posts were attacked and security forces defended themselves.
The unrest continued on Monday when several people were shot dead outside Tchiroma Bakari's residence in the town of Garoua, a local journalist at the scene told the BBC.
Around the same time, an opposition leader wrote on Facebook that civilians gathered near his home were being shot at. He later claimed that there were snipers at the house opposite him who were “shooting point-blank at people.”
Authorities have not yet commented on these reports.
The protesters denounced what they said was the ruling DCPM's plan to “steal victory” from Chiroma Bakaria.
The situation in the capital Yaounde is so tense that almost all shops and schools remained closed and most government employees and office workers remained at home.
Supporters of Issa Chiroma Bakari have clashed with security forces in recent days [Reuters]
A total of 10 candidates were vying for the presidency, including former Prime Minister Bello Buba Maigari.
Voter turnout was 58%.
At least 10 petitions alleging election irregularities were rejected by the Constitutional Council.
Residents of Yaounde are voicing their opinions on Biya's controversial victory.
“We are at the beginning of another nightmare,” Amungwa Nicodemus told the BBC.
“The economy is in shambles, corruption is endemic, a lot of things are going wrong.”
Another resident, Abolo Denis, called on Cameroonians to accept the result, saying peace was of paramount importance.
“What struck me first after the results were announced was the silence – a graveyard silence,” said Vivian Muma from the northern city of Bamenda.
“Silence speaks for itself. The Cameroonian people have decided, but those who [make] decisions, they decided differently,” she said.
Supporters of Issa Chiroma Bakari claim that the ruling CDPM had a plan to “steal victory” from the opposition leader [MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images]
The ruling party hailed Biya's victory “under the sign of greatness and hope” in online messages.
Biya, who came to power in 1982, rarely appears in public and is known for spending time outside Africa in Swiss hotels. These long absences combined with his advanced age had in the past led to rumors that he died.
Although his leadership was praised for expanding schools and public universities, and his Bakassi dispute resolution – which resulted in the oil-rich peninsula being handed over to Cameroon instead of Nigeria – his tenure was also criticized.
A violent separatist insurgency in the English-speaking West has been going on for almost a decade, unemployment among people under 35 is 40%, roads and hospitals are being destroyed, and freedom of speech is limited.
In recent days, analysts have warned that Cameroon, a once peaceful country, could plunge into political instability if election results do not reflect the will of the people.
“Biya now has a particularly shaky mandate because many of his own citizens do not believe he won the election,” Muriti Mutiga, Africa program director at the International Crisis Group, said in a statement.
“We call on Biya to urgently initiate national mediation to prevent further escalation,” he added.
