Gambia Grants Humanitarian Asylum to Cameroonian Opposition Leader Bakary

Gambia Grants Humanitarian Asylum to Cameroonian Opposition Leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary

Issa Tchiroma Bakary is a prominent Cameroonian politician who was long an ally and spokesperson for President Paul Biya. During the 2025 presidential elections, he shifted from a supporter of Biya to a serious challenger. His transformation from a government minister defending Biya's policies to a leading opposition figure marks a significant political shift in Cameroon. Fleeing for his safety after the controversial 2025 presidential election, Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary was taken in by Gambia on November 7, 2025, which granted him temporary asylum on humanitarian grounds. He arrived in Gambia "for purely humanitarian reasons," according to an official statement released Sunday from Banjul. In addition to humanitarian considerations, Gambia is working with regional partners such as Nigeria to support a peaceful political solution to the post-election tensions in Cameroon. Bakary had disputed the official election results, which declared long-time President Paul Biya the winner, and claimed victory for himself. His opposition work and calls for protests led to political persecution and post-election violence, ultimately forcing his flight. Before arriving in Gambia, Bakary had temporarily sought refuge in Nigeria. The temporary asylum was granted in the spirit of African solidarity in light of the post-election tensions in Cameroon. The measure is intended to ensure the safety of Tchiroma, the president of Cameroon's National Salvation Front, according to the statement. The country added that subversive activities would not be tolerated on Gambian territory. Banjul is working with regional partners, including Nigeria, to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Cameroon and reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability in West and Central Africa. So far, there has been no official reaction from Yaoundé.