Cameroon's Opposition Leader Flee to Gambia Amid Contested Election
In a move aimed at ensuring his safety, Cameroon's opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has fled to The Gambia after the disputed presidential election that returned 92-year-old President Paul Biya to power. This came amidst deadly protests and widespread calls for unrest from Tchiroma, who claimed vote tampering and declared himself the real winner.
Tchiroma, a former government minister leading the Cameroon National Salvation Front, had 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 opposition leader stated that the election was not democracy but electoral theft and constitutional coup, describing it as "blatantly shameful."
However, the Cameroonian government has confirmed that at least five people were killed during the protests, a figure that is disputed by the opposition and civil society groups. The government has initiated legal proceedings against Tchiroma for his repeated calls for insurrection.
Tchiroma's move to Gambia was welcomed by Gambian President Adama Barrow, who stated that his country was working with regional partners like Nigeria to support a peaceful and negotiated outcome following October's election. According to official results, Biya secured 53.7 percent of the vote, while Tchiroma secured 35.2 percent.
Biya has ruled Cameroon for over 43 years, with the help of a constitutional amendment that abolished term limits in 2008. His leadership style has been characterized as authoritarian, and he has faced widespread criticism from opposition groups and human rights activists.
Tchiroma's escape to Gambia highlights the deep-seated mistrust between Biya's government and the opposition, which has led to increasing tensions following the disputed election.
In a move aimed at ensuring his safety, Cameroon's opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has fled to The Gambia after the disputed presidential election that returned 92-year-old President Paul Biya to power. This came amidst deadly protests and widespread calls for unrest from Tchiroma, who claimed vote tampering and declared himself the real winner.
Tchiroma, a former government minister leading the Cameroon National Salvation Front, had 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 opposition leader stated that the election was not democracy but electoral theft and constitutional coup, describing it as "blatantly shameful."
However, the Cameroonian government has confirmed that at least five people were killed during the protests, a figure that is disputed by the opposition and civil society groups. The government has initiated legal proceedings against Tchiroma for his repeated calls for insurrection.
Tchiroma's move to Gambia was welcomed by Gambian President Adama Barrow, who stated that his country was working with regional partners like Nigeria to support a peaceful and negotiated outcome following October's election. According to official results, Biya secured 53.7 percent of the vote, while Tchiroma secured 35.2 percent.
Biya has ruled Cameroon for over 43 years, with the help of a constitutional amendment that abolished term limits in 2008. His leadership style has been characterized as authoritarian, and he has faced widespread criticism from opposition groups and human rights activists.
Tchiroma's escape to Gambia highlights the deep-seated mistrust between Biya's government and the opposition, which has led to increasing tensions following the disputed election.
it's like they're tryna keep paul biya in power no matter what 
at least 5 people dead during protests and tchiroma's all like "no way, i'm outta here" 
he's gotta be shakin' after that 
can't blame him tho, the gov's been super shady about this election 
biya's been in power for like, forever 
43 years?! that's crazy 
anyway, it's good to see adama barrow from the gambia supportin tchiroma, maybe they can work somethin out 
.
. The government is trying to lock him up for his views? That's just chilling me out 
. And meanwhile, Biya is just cruising along, with 53.7% of the vote or whatever 
. It's just not right, you know? I mean, what's next? Will they be like "oh no, another election, we'd better get him to run again"? No respect for the people, if you ask me 
The whole thing is just a mess 
I mean, we all know Biya's been in power for like, forever 
. It's a classic authoritarian move 
... but does anyone really care? 
i hope adama barrow and nigeria's leaders are taking this seriously tho... we need peaceful negotiations over protests 
this is so unfair... i cant even imagine how scared issa tchiroma must be after all that violence. fleeing the country because of the government's actions is just heartbreaking. it's like they're not trusting their own people at all 
and now he's having to find refuge in another country, gambia, because of biya's authoritarian rule 
it's so sad. maybe someone from the international community can help broker a peaceful solution to this whole thing? 
and it's no wonder there are so many people who aren't happy about it. The fact that they're calling out vote tampering and electoral theft makes sense, but at the same time, you gotta wonder if there's some truth to all this drama 
.
Guess it just goes to show how fragile the situation is right now. Fingers crossed things can get resolved peacefully, though 
I mean, come on... 92 years old? Paul Biya is older than some of the presidents of other countries that are no longer in power. It's crazy how one person can hold onto power for so long, right? 
.
. The fact that they're disputing the election results and calling for protests already had me thinking "things are gonna get outta hand" 
, but it's crazy how it escalated into real-life consequences 
.
. The opposition leader's claims of vote tampering and electoral theft aren't unfounded, and it's wild that they're facing legal proceedings for speaking out 
, so I'm sending love to Tchiroma and the Cameroon National Salvation Front 
. Let's hope Gambia can provide them with the support they need, and that these tensions get resolved peacefully 
. Can't wait for some good ol' tech-solutioning magic 
!
. Paul Biya has been in power for ages, but that's no excuse for the opposition leader to have his words twisted into "calls for insurrection" 
. Tchiroma's 35.2% showing was not too shabby either 
. And now he's fleeing to Gambia because his own government is after him? It's like they're more interested in silencing dissent than actually addressing the problems that led to the protests.
can't believe he had to flee Cameroon like that after calling for protests 
. It's like he's saying, "You know what, I've had enough of this system, I need a new home." 
But at the same time, you can't blame him for feeling that way 
. It's like, what's next? Will they come after me too? 
. Maybe one day, we'll see a system that truly values the voices and opinions of all its citizens 
. Until then, we just gotta keep pushing forward 
.
five people killed and they're still trying to silence tchiroma? no way, man