Human Rights Watch raised concern on Tuesday over the authorities in Cameroon responding to widespread opposition-led protests following the October 12 elections with lethal force and mass arrests of protesters and other citizens.

Tuesday’s report detailed a violent crackdown that followed the Constitutional Council’s announcement on October 27, declaring 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya the winner of an eighth term. The official results are typically published by the Constitutional Council of Cameroon. The opposition, led by challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary, alleged electoral fraud and declared its own victory, triggering mass protests across several cities.

State security forces and opposition protesters reportedly clashed in the days following the election. Some protests turned violent, with crowds building roadblocks and ransacking buildings and security forces responding with tear gas and live ammunition.

According to the statement, which cites international media and opposition accounts, the death toll ranges from 48 to 55 people. A pool of lawyers formed to assist those arrested estimated that up to 2,000 people were detained.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated:

The violent crackdown on protesters and ordinary citizens across Cameroon lays bare a deepening pattern of repression that casts a dark cloud over the election. The authorities should immediately rein in, investigate, and prosecute responsible security forces.

The government’s forceful response adds to the nation’s political crisis. Although the communication minister has acknowledged “several dozen” deaths and stated that investigations are ongoing, the historical context of impunity casts doubt on their outcomes. Subsequent developments, including the opposition’s 48-hour ultimatum for the release of detainees and the potential for further violence, are pending.

The Cameroonian government is signatory to international human rights treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to life, freedom of assembly, and expression.