Cameroon’s opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has fled to The Gambia for his safety, the Gambian government has confirmed.
Bakary, who contested the outcome of the presidential election, arrived in The Gambia on November 7 and was allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds. He has vowed to resist President Paul Biya’s government, claiming he is the legitimate winner of the October 12 election.
The Cameroonian government had threatened to put Bakary on trial for allegedly inciting violent post-election demonstrations, which he denies.
The government puts the number of people killed in post-election violence at 16, but other organizations have reported a higher death toll.
Bakary, who once served in Biya’s government, came second in the election with 35.2% of the vote, while Biya was declared the winner with 53.7% amid allegations of fraud. The 92-year-old president has been in power for 43 years.
