• Issa Tchiroma Bakary flees to Gambia for safety after disputed Cameroon election.
• The Gambia hosts Tchiroma on humanitarian grounds amid post-election tensions.
• Cameroon's President Paul Biya wins re-election, igniting deadly protests.
• Estimates of protest-related deaths vary, with reports of up to 55 fatalities.

Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has fled to The Gambia for safety following the recent presidential election results that controversially returned longtime ruler Paul Biya to power. Tchiroma has claimed he is the true victor of the election held on October 12, which he alleges was marred by fraud, stating, “This is not democracy, it is electoral theft, a constitutional coup" according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The Gambia's government confirmed that Tchiroma was taken in on humanitarian grounds on November 7, as they are working with regional partners, including Nigeria, to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the tensions arising from the elections. A statement from the Gambian government emphasized their commitment, “in the spirit of African solidarity” to ensuring Tchiroma's safety during these discussions according to BBC and Africanews.

The aftermath of the election has seen significant unrest across Cameroon, with reported fatalities during protests. While the Cameroonian government has confirmed 16 deaths, opposition groups and human rights organizations have reported numbers as high as 55, reflecting a widespread crackdown by security forces on dissenting voices according to Africanews and Reuters.

Tchiroma's legal troubles continue as the Cameroonian government has threatened legal action against him for inciting protests, a claim he vehemently denies. His opposition party is actively contesting the election outcome, maintaining that the political climate in Cameroon remains hostile for dissenters, further justifying his flight to The Gambia according to BBC and Al Jazeera.