On 31 July 2025, Cameroonian presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary was barred from flying to Senegal at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport.
Tchiroma, who leads the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) party, was accompanied by his daughter. The pair intended to visit the grave of former president Ahmadou Ahidjo in Dakar.
Eyewitnesses and local media report that airport officials told Tchiroma he could not travel, citing undisclosed “orders from above”.
Notably, officials provided no written documentation, warrant, or legal justification for the travel ban.
As of 1 August, the Cameroonian government has remained silent, intensifying speculation that the decision was politically motivated.
POLITICAL CONTEXT DEEPENS PUBLIC SUSPICION
Tchiroma’s sudden travel restriction comes amid his active campaign for Cameroon’s 12 October 2025 presidential election.
In June 2025, he resigned from his government post, publicly criticising President Paul Biya’s administration as “broken” and “paralysed”.
Since launching his presidential bid, Tchiroma has called for structural reforms, promising to dismantle the current regime and restore constitutional order.
His push for an opposition coalition has gained momentum in recent weeks.
The Issa Tchiroma travel ban’s timing, coinciding with the intensifying coalition-building efforts, has fuelled fears of electoral manipulation.
LEGAL UNCERTAINTY FUELS PUBLIC OUTRAGE
Legal experts and civil society organisations are raising serious constitutional concerns. Cameroon’s laws guarantee citizens the freedom of movement, yet Tchiroma’s ban was issued verbally, without a court order or legal precedent.
Legal scholars and human rights observers argue that the travel restriction on Issa Tchiroma may violate Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees individuals the right to leave any country, including their own, and to return.
Article 13(2) of the UDHR states, “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
Cameroon is a signatory to the UDHR and has incorporated many of its provisions into national legal frameworks.
Meanwhile, public reaction has been swift, with widespread condemnation from civil society and activists accusing the government of suppressing dissent.
OPPOSITION LEADERS CONDEMN THE MOVE
Opposition figures, including members of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) and the Social Democratic Front (SDF), have strongly condemned the travel ban.
They describe it as a direct attack on democracy, warning it could undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming vote.
Sources close to Issa Tchiroma Bakary have acknowledged the challenges posed by the travel ban but stressed their commitment to continuing political activities and dialogue ahead of the election.
A TURNING POINT IN CAMEROON’S 2025 ELECTION
Society accuses President Paul Biya of political repression, aiming to limit fair competition. Human rights groups have consistently condemned the government’s actions, including arbitrary arrests and crackdowns on protests.
As of August 2025, the African Union (AU) has not made a formal statement, but legal experts and monitoring groups remain vigilant.
Barrister Agbor Balla, a leading Cameroonian human rights lawyer and constitutional expert, has urged the government to respect constitutional rights.
He warns that travel bans without due process violate both national laws and international human rights standards.
This incident adds to political tensions, especially after the electoral commission barred opposition leader Maurice Kamto, increasing concerns over the fairness of the upcoming election.
WILL CAMEROON PROTECT ELECTORAL INTEGRITY OR CONTINUE THE CRACKDOWN?
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