As Cameroon holds its breath awaiting the official results of its October 12th presidential election, the nation is teetering on the edge of a crisis. The recent fire at a ruling CPDM party office in Dschang has become a potent symbol of the deep-seated tensions and public frustration simmering across the country.
Cameroon Election: A Nation on Edge
The 2025 Cameroonian presidential election, held on October 12th, was already a historic moment, pitting the world’s oldest sitting head of state, 92-year-old President Paul Biya, against a field of opposition candidates . While the polls have closed, the wait for official results has been fraught with anxiety and unrest .
Fire in Dschang: The Spark That Lit the Tinderbox
In the western city of Dschang, this anxiety erupted into violence. The local secretariat of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party was set ablaze by unknown individuals . Multiple reports confirm that the fire was a direct response to the just-concluded election, with residents and protesters calling for President Biya to step down from power [[10], [12]]. This act of arson is not an isolated incident but a stark indicator of the widespread discontent with the current political climate.
Protests and Mass Arrests Grip Major Cities
The unrest has spread far beyond Dschang. In the nation’s commercial capital, Douala, large-scale protests have broken out, with citizens accusing electoral authorities of fraud and demanding transparency . Security forces have responded with tear gas and water cannons, leading to a wave of arrests across multiple towns .
The opposition has been particularly hard-hit. In the lead-up to the election, 23 activists from the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) were put on trial for a pre-election protest , and recent reports indicate that dozens more have been detained in the post-election turmoil .
What’s at Stake?
President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for over four decades, faced a rare and unified challenge from the opposition in this election . The core issues driving the public anger include:
- Electoral Integrity: Widespread allegations of fraud and a lack of a transparent vote-counting process.
- Political Fatigue: A deep-seated desire for generational change after 42 years of the same leadership.
- Economic Hardship: Frustration over persistent poverty and a lack of economic opportunity for the youth.
International Community Watches Closely
The international community, including the United States Embassy in Yaoundé, has been monitoring the situation closely, having previously welcomed the announcement of the election date as a step towards democratic stability . The current violence and arrests, however, threaten to undermine that fragile stability.
Sources
Presidential elections were held in Cameroon on 12 October 2025.
Mbida Chris says timely election results are crucial to ease public anxiety.
A CPDM party secretariat in the city of Dschang, Cameroon, has been reportedly set on fire.
The CPDM headquarters in Dschang, Cameroon, have been set on fire by protesters.
The CPDM party house in Dschang has reportedly been set on fire this evening by residents.
The United States Embassy in Yaoundé welcomes the official announcement of the date for Cameroon’s presidential elections.
Cameroonians will vote in presidential elections on 12 October 2025. The incumbent, Paul Biya, who has been in office for nearly 43 years.
Activists and sympathizers of Cameroon’s Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) opposition party appeared in court.
Scores of people have been arrested as police deployed teargas and water cannons to disperse youths protesting election results.
Protests broke out Wednesday in Cameroon’s commercial hub of Douala, with angry crowds accusing authorities of.
