Cameroon's security forces killed 48 civilians while responding to protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting leader, according to data shared with Reuters on Tuesday by two U.N. sources.
The majority of the victims were shot with live ammunition, though several others died from injuries sustained from being beaten with batons and sticks, the UN sources reported.
Biya’s government, which has not provided an official death toll, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
U.S. Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused Biya’s government on Tuesday of orchestrating a "sham" re-election, targeting political opponents, and unlawfully detaining American citizens, including some from Idaho. He did not specify the individuals he was referring to.
"Cameroon is not a U.S. partner and poses economic and security risks to the American people. It’s time to reassess this relationship before the consequences worsen," Risch wrote on X.
Biya, 92, was declared the winner of the election with 53.66% of the vote, against 35.19% for opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government spokesperson who resigned from his ministerial position in June.
Tchiroma had declared himself the winner shortly after the October 12 election, leading to protests in various locations as early results showed Biya, in power since 1982, was set to secure an eighth term.
The civil society group Stand Up for Cameroon reported last week that at least 23 people had been killed due to the security forces' crackdown on protesters.
Nearly half of the deaths recorded by the UN occurred in the Littoral region, which includes Douala, the port city where election-related protests were most intense. Three gendarmes were also killed in Douala, according to the UN data.
There were 10 deaths recorded in the North region, the capital of which is Garoua, Tchiroma’s hometown.
Protests have significantly subsided this week. Tchiroma called for a three-day national lockdown starting on Monday, urging supporters to halt activities and remain at home to show dissent over the election results.
Biya is expected to be sworn in on Thursday.
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