By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Cameroon’s security forces killed 48 civilians as they responded to protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest ruler, according to data shared with Reuters on Tuesday by two
The majority of the victims were killed by live rounds although several died from wounds sustained when they were beaten with batons and sticks, Reuters quoted two U.N. sources as saying.
Biya, 92 world oldest rulers is yet to provide death toll for the protests.
He was named winner of the election by a comfortable margin last week after polling 53.66% of the vote against 35.19% garnered by opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government spokesperson who resigned from his ministerial post in June.
Tchiroma had declared himself the winner shortly after the October 12 election, and protests erupted in various locations as early results showed Biya in a comfortable lead.
He came to power since 1982 and just secured an eighth term in an election that sparked bloody protests.
A civil society group known as Stand Up for Cameroon said last week that at least 23 people had been killed as a result of security forces cracking down on protesters.
Nearly half of the deaths recorded by the U.N. occurred in Cameroon’s Littoral region, which includes the port city of Douala where election-related protests last week were most intense.
Three security officials also died in Douala, according to the U.N. data.
At least 10 deaths were also recorded in the North region, the capital of which is Garoua, Tchiroma’s hometown.
Protests have considerably reduced. Tchiroma called for a three-day national lockdown starting Monday, urging supporters to suspend activities and remain at home to show dissent at the election results.
Biya is expected to be sworn in on Thursday.
