Demonstration protesting presidential election in Douala, Cameroon on October 27 (local time). EPA Yonhap News. 

Cameroonian authorities in Central Africa announced on the 13th (local time) that 16 people have died due to protests and violence following the presidential election last month. This is the first time the government has announced an official death toll since the unrest, according to AP.

Cameroon's Minister of Interior, Paul Atanga Nji, stated that 13 protesters were killed in Douala, the economic hub and largest city, during the violence, and 3 others in the northern region. He also added that 800 protesters were arrested in the process.

However, according to the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), Cameroon's opposition claims that 55 people died during the violent crackdown by the military and police.

In a report released the previous day, HRW urged, "Violent suppression has occurred against protesters and ordinary citizens across Cameroon. Authorities must immediately investigate and prosecute those responsible in the military and police to hold them accountable."

In the presidential election held on October 12 last month, President Paul Biya (92), the world's oldest head of state, secured his eighth term with 53.66% of the vote, defeating opposition candidate Issa Tchirouma Bakary (79) of the National Union for Cameroon's Salvation (FNSC), who garnered 35.19%.

Around the announcement of the final official vote count by the Constitutional Council on October 27, protests demanding reliable election results continued in several cities, including the largest city Douala. The military and police forcefully suppressed these demonstrations, leading to bloodshed.

Tchirouma, who has consistently claimed victory since the presidential election, is contesting the Constitutional Council's announcement of President Biya's win.

On November 5, the day before President Biya's inauguration, he wrote on social media, "There are now two presidents. The president elected by the Cameroonian people (myself) and the president appointed by the Constitutional Council (the one you know)." The FNSC claims that their own tally shows them ahead of President Biya, with 54.8% of the vote compared to his 31.3%.

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