The United Democratic Party (UDP), Gambia’s largest opposition party, has strongly criticised President Adama Barrow’s administration for what it calls “unacceptable secrecy” surrounding the hosting of Cameroonian opposition leader Mr. Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
In a sharply worded statement issued hours after the government finally confirmed Mr. Bakary’s presence, the UDP acknowledged The Gambia’s proud history of offering sanctuary but accused the authorities of keeping citizens in the dark for more than two weeks.
“The public only learned of Mr. Bakary’s arrival on 7 November because of speculation, not because the government chose transparency,” the party said, describing the delay as a breach of democratic accountability.
Mr. Bakary, who contested Cameroon’s controversial October 2025 presidential election against incumbent Paul Biya, fled amid fears of political persecution after rejecting the official results. The government insists his stay is temporary and purely humanitarian.
While expressing “full solidarity” with Mr. Bakary and pride that The Gambia can offer him and his family a haven, the UDP insisted that humanitarian gestures must never justify governing in the shadows.
The party demanded an immediate, comprehensive briefing to the National Assembly and the public, including details on the length of stay, security arrangements, funding implications, and any diplomatic assurances given to Cameroon or other states.
“Selective disclosure when convenient is not openness,” the statement declared, warning that secrecy on matters of diplomacy and national security risks eroding public trust.
The rebuke marks the latest tension between the Barrow administration and the UDP, which has repeatedly accused the government of sliding toward authoritarian tendencies despite its 2017 democratic breakthrough.
As regional powers, including Nigeria, push for dialogue in Cameroon, Gambians now await whether the government will address the opposition’s demands or double down on its tightly controlled narrative.
