Gambiaj.com – (DOUALA, CAMEROON) – The suspension in Cameroon of the political party led by Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who is currently living in exile in The Gambia, has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, with concerns that the move could further narrow political space ahead of legislative and municipal elections.
Cameroon’s government announced on 27 October that the Front for the Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) would be suspended for three months. Authorities cited five grounds, including alleged calls for insurrection, incitement to violence, and serious disturbances linked to the presidential election held on 12 October 2025.
Tchiroma, a former presidential candidate, left Cameroon and is now based in The Gambia following the disputed election, which was won by long-serving President Paul Biya.
Opposition Questions The Timing
Much of the criticism has centered not only on the reasons given for the suspension but also on when it was imposed.
Cameroon is approaching legislative and municipal elections, and opposition parties say suspending the FSNC at this stage could make it harder for the party and its potential candidates to organize and participate effectively.
The Union Démocratique du Cameroun (UDC), led by Tomaino Ndam Njoya, described the measure as potentially exclusionary and called for the forthcoming elections to be as inclusive as possible.
The Movement for African Independence and Democracy (Manidem), which supported Tchiroma during the presidential election, went further, describing the suspension as a “gross manoeuvre” by a government it accused of seeking to neutralize political opponents rather than face them at the ballot box.
The Parti Camerounais pour la Réconciliation Nationale (PCRN), led by opposition lawmaker Cabral Libii, called the suspension another blow to political pluralism and appealed directly to President Biya to reconsider the decision in the interest of “appeasement and pluralism.”
FSNC Says Suspension Changes Little
The FSNC itself dismissed the suspension on Wednesday as a “non-event” and a “grossly staged exercise.”
The party said it had already announced a boycott of the forthcoming legislative and municipal elections because it believes the conditions for a democratic, free, and transparent vote do not exist.
That position means the suspension may have limited immediate practical consequences for a party that had already decided not to participate.
But for Tchiroma, whose political future is now closely watched from The Gambia, the decision adds another layer to a confrontation that began with last year’s presidential election and his subsequent departure from Cameroon.
The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) declined to comment on the suspension.
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