The Rise of Issa Tchiroma Bakary: The Fall of a Political Empire

By Elie Smith (Yaoundé, 23rd October 2025) Paris may be calm, stylish, and civilised—but Cameroon has been witnessing a political storm since the 12th October presidential election, an event that has shaken the foundations of a 42-year-old regime and rewritten the country’s political script. The outcome may soon declare Paul Biya the winner, but the “real victor” is unmistakably Issa Tchiroma Bakary. His meteoric rise has destroyed the political careers of nearly every major contender: Maurice Kamto, Bello Bouba Maigari, Cabral Libii, Joshua Osih, and even Paul Biya himself. Human Rights advocate, Elie Smith What began on 12th October was…