Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who is contesting the outcome of the presidential election, has fled to The Gambia for his safety, The Gambian government has said.

Tchiroma Bakary has insisted he is the legitimate winner of the 12 October election, alleging that the result was rigged to give President Paul Biya, 92, an eighth term.

The Gambian information ministry said on Sunday that Tchiroma Bakary arrived on 7 November and was allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds.

Cameroon’s government had threatened to put him on trial for allegedly inciting violent post-election demonstrations. He denied the allegation, and blamed the security forces for a crackdown on protesters.

The government put the number of people killed in post-election violence at 16, but other organisations have given a higher death toll.

Tchiroma Bakary has repeatedly promised to resist Biya’s government until his “victory” in the election is recognised.

Biya, the world’s oldest president, has been in power for 43 years, and was declared the winner with 53.7% of the vote amid allegations of fraud.

Tchiroma Bakary, who served in Biya’s government for many years, came second with 35.2%.

His resistance tactics have included calling for street protests and “ghost town” operations aimed at bringing cities and towns to a standstill.

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Until The Gambian government confirmed his presence, his whereabouts had remained a mystery although there was speculation that he had fled to another country in the region.

“He is being hosted temporarily in The Gambia purely on humanitarian grounds in the spirit of African solidarity and for the purpose of ensuring his safety while discussions continue to pursue a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the post-electoral tensions in Cameroon,” The Gambian government said in a statement.

The Gambian authorities said the country would not be used as a “base for subversive activity against any state”.

The BBC has reached out to the Cameroonian government for comment.

Reacting to the announcement, The Gambia’s main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) criticised the government for withholding the announcement of Tchiroma Bakary’s arrival until Sunday.

It said it raised “serious questions about transparency, accountability, and respect for The Gambian people’s right to know what actions are taken in their name”.

However, the party said it was proud that Tchiroma Bakary could find “safe sanctuary” in The Gambia, adding that it was fully aware of how “despotism operates and how dissenters are treated”.

Source: BBC

Cameroon is trying to breathe new life into one of its road infrastructure projects. A decree signed on November 18, 2025 by President Paul Biya authorizes the mobilization of 235.5 million euros from MUFG Bank London – a buyer credit of 207.9 million euros and a commercial credit of 27.6 million euros – to restart work on lot No. 1 of the Yaoundé-Nsimalen highway.

After more than a decade of delays, this new funding aims to accelerate the construction of the 12.3 km urban section, linking the Ahala interchange to downtown Yaoundé. This section, essential for facilitating access to the international airport, has seen its cost revised to 434 billion CFA francs, up from the initial 380 billion CFA francs, due to land constraints, complex urban planning, and technical adjustments.

The project is divided into three segments entrusted to two companies: Buns, responsible for the first 6.2 kilometers, and Razel, the contractor for the other two lots. To date, only the “countryside” section, connecting Nsimalen airport and inaugurated in January 2022 after seven years of work, is fully operational – a limited progress for a project launched in 2014.

For public decision-makers, donors, and investors, this loan marks a decisive step: it aims to secure a strategic axis for the attractiveness of the capital, support urban mobility, and strengthen Cameroon’s economic competitiveness. The success of this phase will condition the credibility of future financial mobilizations and the confidence of international partners in the execution of the country’s major infrastructure projects.

Source: Financial Afrik

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President Paul Biya to congratulate him on his inauguration.

During their conversation, the Secretary and the President discussed deepening the partnership between the United States and Cameroon to advance shared goals, including strengthening security as well as achieving regional peace and prosperity for both nations.

The Secretary commended Cameroon for its role as a partner in the fight against terrorism.