Gambia has confirmed it is temporarily sheltering Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary following a disputed election in Cameroon that returned President Paul Biya to power for an eighth term, sparking deadly unrest.
In a statement released Sunday, Gambia’s Ministry of Information said Tchiroma arrived in the country on November 7 and is being hosted “purely on humanitarian grounds” to ensure his safety. The ministry added that Banjul is coordinating with regional partners, including Nigeria, to encourage a “peaceful and negotiated resolution” to Cameroon’s post-election crisis.
Tchiroma’s spokesperson, Alice Nkom, also confirmed his presence in Gambia.
The October 12 vote, which extended Biya’s decades-long rule, has been fiercely contested. At 92, Biya is the world’s oldest sitting president. His rival Tchiroma insists he won the election and has urged Cameroonians to reject the official results.
Cameroon’s government has announced plans to pursue legal action against Tchiroma, accusing him of inciting insurrection.
Protests erupted in opposition strongholds such as Douala, Maroua, and Garoua after the results were declared. Authorities reported 16 deaths, but opposition groups and human rights organizations claim the toll exceeds 55.
Biya, who first assumed power in 1982 after Cameroon’s founding president stepped down, has remained in office thanks in part to a constitutional amendment removing term limits. Rarely appearing in public, he spends much of his time abroad, leaving day-to-day governance to party officials and family members.
