Cameroon opposition chief Issa Tchiroma Bakary flees to safety as international bodies including the United Nations and France urge the government of Paul Biya to halt deadly crackdowns following a disputed election Tensions escalate in the wake of deadly protests and accusations of vote rigging .
Flight of the opposition leader
Reports indicate that Issa Tchiroma Bakary who challenged Biya in the October 12 2025 presidential election has fled his residence in Garoua amid mounting pressure and violence According to a foreign journalist based in Yaounde Tchiroma crossed into Nigeria via the city of Yola and was later airlifted to an undisclosed location .
His house remained guarded by supporters following his departure and rumours swirl that another opposition figure was arrested in Douala and transferred to Yaounde .
Election dispute and escalating unrest
Tchiroma declared himself the winner of the election claiming he secured 548 percent of the vote compared to Biyas announced 537 percent However the official tally by the electoral commission placed Tchiroma at 352 percent and Biya at 537 percent .
In response protests erupted across the country in cities such as Douala Garoua and Yaounde Security forces reportedly used lethal force with at least four people killed in initial clashes .
The oppositions platform is now gearing up for further nationwide demonstrations aimed at rejecting the declared results and paralysing key urban centres .
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International alarm and calls for restraint
The UN human rights office issued a statement voicing alarm over reports of deaths during the protests It urged Cameroonian authorities to refrain from using lethal force guarantee fair trials for detainees and conduct impartial investigations into election related violence .
France the former colonial power in Cameroon also weighed in The French Foreign Ministry called on Cameroon to uphold democracy fundamental freedoms and the rule of law and to release all persons arbitrarily detained since the electoral process began .
Other international actors including the European Union echoed these warnings urging restraint and the release of detained protesters .
Allegations of repression and accountability
Human rights groups and local civil society say that security forces have responded to protests with disproportionate violence A group called Stand up for Cameroon reported at least 23 people killed in crackdowns over the weekend following the election .
Meanwhile the governments Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has blamed Tchiroma for inciting unrest accusing him of encouraging civil disorder via social media He also claimed looting and arson by small groups during the unrest albeit without presenting detailed evidence .
The political backdrop long term rule and growing frustration
President Paul Biya aged 92 has governed Cameroon since 1982 His reelection in 2025 marks another extension of a decades long tenure Critics accuse him of using state institutions to cling to power while much of the population continues to live in poverty and growing frustration accumulates .
This election cycle was the closest the opposition had come to making serious gains the official 352 percent secured by Tchiroma is the highest for an opposition candidate in decades But with the widely disputed result and crackdown that followed many fear the country is entering a deeper political crisis .
What is next
The whereabouts of Issa Tchiroma Bakary remain unconfirmed and his departure signals the oppositions vulnerability .
Protest mobilisation continues particularly in cities that saw the fiercest clashes such as Douala and Garoua
International pressure is mounting and the government will likely be scrutinised closely over its response to the unrest and treatment of detainees .
The risk of deeper institutional instability looms if the government fails to address both the credibility of its electoral process and the grievances driving popular discontent .
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources Readers should cross check updates from official news outlets .