YAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON — At 92, President Paul Biya has won Cameroon’s latest presidential election, extending his 43-year grip on power. Representing the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), Biya secured 53.66% of the vote, according to the Constitutional Council, while his main rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary—a former ally now turned critic—trailed with 35.19%.

Protests Erupt Amid Claims of Fraud

The announcement has sparked outrage instead of celebration. Opposition leaders and activists have dismissed the results, accusing the government of rigging the vote. Tchiroma Bakary, who declared himself the winner before the official tally, called the election a “sham” and rallied his supporters to protest.

In cities like Douala, anger has spilled into the streets. Clashes between protesters and security forces have led to injuries and arrests, with young Cameroonians, fed up with decades under the same ruler, chanting for change and demanding their voices be heard.

A Nation Divided

Biya’s latest victory means more of the same for Cameroon—a government that promises stability but struggles with corruption, sluggish economic growth despite rich resources, and a lingering conflict in the Anglophone regions. With over 70% of Cameroonians under 35, many feel disconnected from a leadership that seems out of touch. Young people are increasingly vocal, pushing for a new generation to take the helm.

The world is watching. While some foreign leaders may send congratulations, Cameroon’s handling of the election and the unrest that follows will shape its ties with global partners and donors.

For Cameroon’s youth, another seven years of Biya feels like a rerun of a story they’re tired of living. The big question now is whether the government can find a way to connect with a generation demanding a say in their country’s future.

Afroradar.com will keep tracking the situation, bringing you updates and insights on Cameroon’s shifting political scene.

Ghana is still struggling to come to terms with a tragic military helicopter crash which killed eight people, including two government ministers and other top officials, on the morning of August 6, 2025.

The downed Ghanaian Air Force helicopter belonged to the Z-9 model and took off again from Accra en route to Obuasi at 09:12am but crashed after departure. They immediately began search efforts when the aircraft did not respond to radio contact. The helicopter was later reported to have crashed into a tree in the Adansi Akrofuom District of Ashanti Region, where it caught fire and burnt beyond recognition.

The crash killed Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, National Democratic Congress Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong and former Parliamentary Candidate Samuel Aboagye as well as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah who were members of the crew.

National tragedy, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah declared during a press conference in the capital As the country mourns, flags are being flown at half mast on all government buildings as ordered by the government.

Rescue crews were on scene by 4 a.m., but by then the fire was so intense that little remained of the wreckage. It is not yet clear what prompted the crash — they are examining whether it could have been a technical fault or adverse weather conditions. The occurrence harks back to a military helicopter that crash-landed inside the Western Region in March 2024, but no one was injured in that accident.

The crash happened as Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Minister for the Ashanti Region, was addressing an anti-galamsey event in Obuasi He rushed away to assist in coordinating the emergency response at the scene.

The government has vowed to provide support for the families of victims amid a wide probe to determine what led to the tragedy. At the moment, Ghana now awaits details of what might have caused such a tragic loss of lives. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Bamako, Mali – On Monday, Interpol issued an international arrest warrant, known as a Red Notice, for Karim Keita, the son of Mali’s former president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The warrant is connected to the 2016 disappearance of an investigative journalist, judicial sources confirmed.
Sources close to the case indicated that the Red Notice for Keita, himself a powerful former legislator, was requested by an investigating judge in Bamako. Since the coup that ousted his father, Karim Keita has been residing in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Another judicial source, speaking anonymously, stated that Malian authorities are aware of Karim Keita’s precise address in Abidjan and are seeking cooperation from Ivorian judicial authorities for his transfer to Mali. The source added that Interpol has already been provided with the former parliamentarian’s residence address. This well-informed source believes the request is likely to be met favorably by Ivorian officials.
Seeking the Truth in a Journalist’s Disappearance
Malian judicial authorities are awaiting Karim Keita’s presence to provide an explanation and be confronted with witnesses in the journalist’s disappearance case. Birama Touré, the investigative journalist, had been working for the Bamako weekly Le Sphinx in the months leading up to his disappearance. According to his family and the magazine’s director, Adama Drame, he has not been seen since January 29, 2016.
The magazine’s director claims Touré was working on a story that would have damaged Keita’s reputation and had approached him about it when he vanished. Both Drame’s and Touré’s families suspect he was abducted, tortured, and killed after several months in detention. Keita has consistently denied any involvement in the disappearance.
“We offer our full support to justice and hope that this action will be the beginning of the truth coming to light in this tragic affair,” stated Bandiougou Danté, president of the Malian Press House, in a press release.