Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 92, has been re-elected for an eighth term in office after securing 53.7 percent of the vote in the October 12 presidential election, according to results announced by the Constitutional Council on Monday.

His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister, came second with 35.2 percent, the council said. Tchiroma, however, had earlier declared himself the winner and called for nationwide demonstrations.

At least four people were killed on Sunday in the economic capital, Douala, following clashes between security forces and opposition supporters. The region’s governor confirmed the fatalities.

Protesters told AFP that security operatives first used tear gas to disperse demonstrators before resorting to live ammunition, escalating the tension in the city.

Supporters of Tchiroma have been protesting since last week, insisting that he actually won 54.8 percent of the votes compared to Biya’s 31.3 percent, based on their own vote tally.

Observers and analysts, however, had widely predicted Biya’s victory, citing what they described as a heavily controlled political system and a lack of electoral transparency.

President Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, has ruled Cameroon since 1982, maintaining tight control over the country’s political space.

He remains only the second leader of Cameroon since its independence from France in 1960, presiding over decades marked by economic inequality, separatist conflict, and political repression.