Is Cameroon on the brink of a political breaking point? Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has vowed to continue resisting President Paul Biya’s rule “until the final victory,” urging his supporters to remain mobilised despite a deadly government crackdown on nationwide protests. Tensions have soared since Biya, the world’s oldest state leader at 92, was declared winner of the October 12 presidential election — a result many critics say was engineered through manipulation of state institutions.

Reporting for Jocomms, correspondents confirmed that the streets of Douala, Cameroon’s economic hub, were littered with debris and burnt tyres on Wednesday after consecutive days of clashes between protesters and security forces. Civil society organisation Stand Up for Cameroon revealed during a press briefing that at least 23 people have been killed since the unrest began over the weekend, as authorities intensified their crackdown to quell dissent. Witnesses reported the use of tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators demanding Biya’s resignation and a fresh election.

Bakary, a former government spokesperson turned fierce rival of the president, has accused Biya of turning Cameroon into “a nation held hostage by fear and power.” As frustration deepens across the cocoa and oil-rich nation, observers warn that the continuing protests could evolve into a broader movement for change. With mounting casualties and resistance showing no sign of fading, many now ask—how much longer can Biya’s decades-long rule withstand the people’s growing defiance? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.