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Cameroon’s Controversial Presidential Candidate Issa Tchiroma Barred from Senegal Trip

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — The political landscape in Cameroon has been rocked by the controversial detention of former Communication Minister and presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who was prevented from boarding a flight to Senegal last Thursday. The incident has reignited debates about political freedoms in the Central African nation as it prepares for crucial elections in October 2025.

A Pilgrimage Denied

Tchiroma, who styles himself as the “candidate of transition,” was traveling to pay respects at the tomb of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, when authorities intervened. In an emotional statement released afterward, the veteran politician claimed: “When you prevent a presidential candidate from traveling, you’re preventing an entire nation from breathing. This proves the current system fears the truth and dreads the transition we represent.”

From Political Prisoner to Government Spokesman

Tchiroma’s career reads like a political thriller. Born around 1946 in Garoua, he earned an engineering degree in France before returning to work for Cameroon’s railway system. His life took a dramatic turn in 1984 when he was imprisoned for six years under suspicion of involvement in a failed coup against President Paul Biya.

After his 1990 release during Cameroon’s democratic opening, Tchiroma initially joined the opposition UNDP party. But in a stunning reversal, he accepted a cabinet position as Transport Minister in 1992—a move that saw him branded a traitor by former allies.

The Ultimate Political Chameleon

Tchiroma’s most visible role came as Communication Minister and government spokesperson from 2009-2019, where he became famous for colorful defenses of the Biya administration. Who could forget his justification of presidential travels: “Like any worker, President Biya deserves vacations paid for with money provided by the sovereign people”?

After a stint as Employment Minister, Tchiroma resigned in June 2024 to challenge his former patron, positioning himself as a transitional figure. His recent show of solidarity with barred opposition leader Maurice Kamto has further complicated his relationship with the establishment.

Family Feud Erupts

The Senegal incident sparked a bitter exchange with Aminatou Ahidjo, daughter of the late president and a ruling party stalwart. She accused Tchiroma of “political and moral fraud,” noting he’d never condoled with the Ahidjo family despite his professed reverence.

“He conveniently forgets that former ministers need presidential approval for foreign travel,” Ahidjo added, highlighting regulations that Tchiroma—a former insider—would know well.

Election Tensions Mount

With Cameroon’s political temperature rising, analysts see Tchiroma’s treatment as a bellwether for the electoral climate. “This incident reveals the government’s nervousness about any challenge to the status quo,” observes University of Yaoundé political scientist Dr. Fatima Ndiaye. “But Tchiroma’s complicated history makes him an imperfect standard-bearer for democratic reform.”

As the October 2025 vote approaches, Cameroon finds itself at a crossroads. Will this resource-rich nation embrace genuine political competition, or will old patterns of control reassert themselves? The answer may depend on whether figures like Tchiroma—flawed but formidable—can navigate the treacherous waters of Cameroonian politics.

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