Cameroon's Constitutional Council has declared 92-year-old President Paul Biya the winner of the just-concluded presidential election, granting him an eighth consecutive term in office. 

Biya secured 53.66% of the vote, defeating his main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who received 35.19%.

Biya, who has been in power since 1982, is the world's longest-serving head of state. 

The 2008 removal of presidential term limits has facilitated his extended tenure by allowing him to run for multiple terms.

According to international media reports, the announcement has been met with protests across the country, which has seen violent clashes between opposition supporters and security forces.

Since the elections, several opposition leaders were arrested; their arrests occurred in Douala, the country's economic capital, late on Friday. 

The government justified the arrests by alleging that those detained were plotting to incite violence under the guise of protests.