Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the self-proclaimed “elected president” of Cameroon, in exile in The Gambia since November 2025,, say his return to the country is imminent.
Bakary lost the October 12, 2025 presidential election to veteran leader Paul Biya.
The opposition leader said his return to Cameroon is near after initiating legal proceedings in France and
Switzerland against alleged perpetrators of the post-election repression.
He did not specify a date for his return.
In its statement, his team indicated that several people had suggested dates for his return and that some had even expressed “malicious intentions.” After consultations, the opposition leader stated that he wants to finalise the necessary arrangements for a return that he hopes will be “orderly.”
He called on Cameroonians residing in the country and in the diaspora to “remain mobilised and ready” to welcome the man he continues to present as “the people’s choice.”
Issa Tchiroma Bakary maintains that the institutional situation in Cameroon since October 12, 2025, strengthens his resolve to return “as soon as possible” to take over the leadership of the country.
The statement, however, does not give a precise return date, merely mentioning ongoing preparations.
The announcement comes a few weeks after the filing of two criminal complaints with the Swiss courts, based on
universal jurisdiction, targeting, according to him, the alleged perpetrators of violence and acts of repression committed after the contested presidential election of October 12, 2025.
In a statement, Issa Tchiroma Bakary asserts that these proceedings concern “massacres and other acts of repression” that he attributes to the Yaoundé government against Cameroonians contesting the election
results.
The former minister indicated that this action in Switzerland was a continuation of complaints filed on June 12, 2026, with the French courts, also based on universal jurisdiction.
He added that similar procedures were being considered in other countries that are party to international conventions on combating torture and enforced disappearances.
According to him, the choice of Switzerland is particularly significant because of President Paul Biya’s regular visits to the country.
The opposition leader presented these steps as a way to combat impunity for those allegedly responsible for post-election violence.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA