Vote counting is under way in Cameroon following Sunday's presidential election in which incumbent Paul Biya is seeking to extend his 43 years in power.
Biya, who at 92 is the world's oldest head of state, is being challenged by nine candidates. If he wins, it will be his eighth consecutive term in office, with the next election due in 2032.
Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji said that voting took place hitch-free across the country. However, there was a call for a boycott in the English-speaking regions in the west and reports of clashes in the north.
The final result should be known within 15 days of the vote.
In the run-up to the election, opposition members complained of attempts to suppress their support. Notably, the Constitutional Council blocked 71-year-old Maurice Kamto, widely viewed as the main challenger, from participating.
On Sunday, angry supporters of leading opposition candidate and former Biya ally, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, took to the streets in his stronghold of Garoua. Clashes occurred with security forces, who fired tear gas after his residence was cordoned off. Tchiroma claimed he was subject to threats but emphasized his determination to remain at home.
Despite these incidents, Interior Minister Nji reported that voting occurred without major incidents across all ten regions of the country. However, he highlighted that the publication of preliminary results from candidates before the official declaration was a major concern, threatening action against would-be offenders.
In the tense Anglophone regions, where separatists attempted to prevent voting, some residents managed to reach polling stations, while many chose to stay home, fearing reprisals.
