Issa Tchiroma Bakary (born c. 1949) is a veteran Cameroonian politician whose career took a shocking and historic turn in 2025. Long known as the fiercest defender of President Paul Biya, Tchiroma dramatically broke with the regime to run as the main opposition challenger in the October 2025 elections. As of January 9, 2026, he is living in exile in Banjul, The Gambia, from where he continues to claim he is the “rightful winner” of the presidency.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Issa Tchiroma Bakary |
| Born | September 10, 1949, Garoua, Cameroon |
| Current Status | Exiled Opposition Leader (in Banjul, The Gambia) |
| Former Office | Minister of Employment (2019–25); Minister of Communication (2009–19) |
| Political Party | Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) |
| 2025 Election | Officially 2nd place (35.2%); Claims victory (60%+) |
2025–2026: The Great Defection and Exile
The most stunning political event of the last year was Tchiroma’s transformation from a regime loyalist to an insurrectionist figure.
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The Break (June 2025): On June 24, 2025, Tchiroma resigned from the government. Within 24 hours, he declared his candidacy for the October election, denouncing the 43-year rule of Paul Biya (92) as a “clan-based failure.” This “about-face” shook the country, as Tchiroma had previously served as the regime’s spokesperson for a decade.
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The Disputed Election: Following the October 12, 2025, vote, Tchiroma preemptively declared victory on social media, calling it a “clear sanction” of the regime. When the Constitutional Council officially declared Biya the winner with 53.7% to Tchiroma’s 35.2%, Tchiroma alleged massive fraud and called for nationwide “ghost town” strikes.
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Escape to The Gambia: In late October 2025, after reporting that snipers were surrounding his residence in Garoua, Tchiroma fled the country. He found refuge in Banjul, The Gambia, where the Gambian government granted him “temporary humanitarian asylum” for his safety.
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Current Activity (January 2026): As of this week, Tchiroma remains active from exile. On January 1, 2026, he issued a New Year’s message to Cameroonians, urging “civil disobedience” and continuing to maintain the legitimacy of a “parallel government.” He recently appointed prominent lawyer Alice Nkom as his spokesperson to challenge the regional elections held in late 2025.
The “Super-Spokesman” Legacy
Before his 2025 rebellion, Tchiroma was one of the most polarizing figures in Cameroonian media:
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“The Military Does Not Kill”: As Minister of Communication, he famously defended the army against all allegations of human rights abuses in the Anglophone regions, once telling Equinoxe TV that “the military does not kill.”
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Debunked Denials: He gained international notoriety for denying a viral video showing soldiers killing women and children in the Far North—a denial that was later proven false by a BBC investigation, forcing the government to admit the truth.
Professional Background
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Engineer to Inmate: Originally a materials and railway engineer, Tchiroma was arrested in 1984 following a failed coup attempt against Biya. He spent over six years in prison without charge, during which he taught himself English.
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The “Better Devil”: In the 2025 election, he was famously described by a Catholic bishop as the “better devil”—a man the public knew was flawed but represented the only viable alternative to the status quo.