The Gambia has confirmed that it is hosting Cameroon’s opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who fled his country following a controversial presidential election that returned 92-year-old President Paul Biya to power for an eighth term.
In a statement released on Sunday via the official Facebook page of Gambian President Adama Barrow, the government said Tchiroma was in the country “temporarily, for the purpose of ensuring his safety” amid escalating tensions in Cameroon.
According to the statement, The Gambia granted Tchiroma temporary refuge on “humanitarian grounds” and is working with regional partners, including Nigeria, to pursue a “peaceful and diplomatic resolution” to the post-election crisis.
The October election results declared Biya, Africa’s longest-serving leader and the world’s oldest sitting head of state, the winner with 53.7% of the vote. Tchiroma, leader of the Cameroon National Salvation Front and a former government minister, officially secured 35.2%.
But the opposition leader rejected the results outright, alleging widespread vote rigging. “This is not democracy, it is electoral theft, a constitutional coup as blatant as it is shameful,” he declared, insisting he was the election’s true winner.
Tchiroma’s rejection of the results sparked nationwide protests, during which he urged his supporters to stage “dead city” operations, closing shops and suspending public activity to demonstrate civil resistance.
The Cameroonian government confirmed at least five deaths during the unrest, though opposition groups and independent observers claim the toll is significantly higher.
Authorities in Yaoundé have vowed to initiate legal action against Tchiroma for what they describe as “repeated calls for insurrection.”
Paul Biya came to power in 1982 after the resignation of the country’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. In 2008, he pushed through a constitutional amendment abolishing presidential term limits—cementing a tenure now spanning 43 years.
His rule has been marked by tight control over dissent and repeated accusations of human rights abuses. Analysts say this latest crisis further highlights deep divisions in Cameroon’s political landscape.
For now, The Gambia says it remains committed to supporting a negotiated outcome as Cameroon grapples with yet another post-electoral standoff.