Journalism of Courage
Cameroon’s security forces killed 48 civilians during protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, according to information shared with Reuters on Tuesday by two United Nations sources.
The UN data showed that most victims were shot dead, while several others died after being beaten with batons and sticks.
The Cameroonian government has not released any official figures on the number of deaths. A government spokesperson did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on Tuesday.
President Biya, who has ruled since 1982, was declared the winner of last week’s election with 53.66 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister who resigned in June, received 35.19 percent of the votes.
Tchiroma rejected the result and declared himself the winner soon after the 12 October vote. Protests broke out in several parts of the country as early results showed Biya on course for an eighth term in office.
A civil society group, Stand Up for Cameroon, said last week that at least 23 people had been killed during the security crackdown.
Nearly half of the deaths recorded by the UN occurred in the Littoral region, which includes the port city of Douala the centre of last week’s protests. According to the UN data, three gendarmes also died in Douala.
Ten deaths were reported in the North region, whose capital Garoua is Tchiroma’s hometown.
The protests have largely subsided this week. Tchiroma called for a three-day national lockdown starting Monday, urging his supporters to stay at home and suspend activities in protest at the election results.
President Biya is expected to be sworn in on Thursday.
