Cameroon opposition leader flees to Gambia for safety' after disputed vote

"Cameroon's opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has fled to The Gambia for the purpose of ensuring his safety in the wake of the recent presidential election that returned longtime ruler Paul Biya to power amid deadly protests. The Gambian government confirmed in a statement on Sunday that it was hosting Tchiroma temporarily in the country on humanitarian grounds while pursuing a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to post-electoral tensions in Cameroon."

"But Tchiroma, who claimed vote tampering, stated he was the election's real winner. This is not democracy, it is electoral theft, a constitutional coup as blatant as it is shameful, he said at the time. The opposition leader repeatedly urged supporters to protest against the official election outcome, urging them to stage dead city operations by closing shops and halting other public activities."

"The Cameroonian government has confirmed that at least five people were killed during the protests, although the opposition and civil society groups claim the figures are much higher. The government has said it plans to initiate legal proceedings against Tchiroma for his repeated calls for insurrection. Biya came to power in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon's first president and has ruled since, following a 2008 constitutional amendment that abolished term limits."

Issa Tchiroma Bakary fled to The Gambia for safety after the disputed presidential election that returned Paul Biya to power amid deadly protests. The Gambian government said it is hosting Tchiroma temporarily on humanitarian grounds while pursuing a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to post-electoral tensions and coordinating with regional partners like Nigeria. Official results showed 92-year-old Biya won 53.7% to Tchiroma's 35.2%, but Tchiroma alleged vote tampering and declared himself the true winner, calling the outcome electoral theft and urging dead city protests. The Cameroonian government reported at least five protest deaths and plans legal action against Tchiroma.

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