Police on Sunday fired teargas to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters in Cameroon, a day before the announcement of presidential election results.

Demonstrators in Cameroon's largest city, Douala, defied protest bans to support opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who they claim beat the country's longtime leader Paul Biya.

"We want Tchiroma, we want Tchiroma!" chanted protesters who barricaded roads.

Biya expected to win Cameroon's presidency again

In several other cities, protests also took place after partial results reported by local media showed that 92-year-old Biya was on course to win an eighth term.

The government has dismissed the opposition’s claims of irregularities and called on citizens to await the official results.

Authorities have banned gatherings until the results of the October 12 vote are announced on Monday.

A former minister and one-time Biya ally, Tchiroma claimed he had won the election and that he would not accept any other result. According to Tchiroma, he won 54.8% of the vote.

In his hometown, Garoua, activists carried Cameroonian flags and banners reading "Tchiroma 2025" and chanted "Goodbye Paul Biya, Tchiroma is coming."

Biya has been in power in Cameroon since 1982. Another seven-year term would extend his rule until he is almost 100 years old.

Edited by: Zac Crellin