BANJUL, Nov 25 – Gambia’s main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), has raised concerns over the government’s silence and lack of transparency surrounding the arrival of Cameroonian opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
In a statement released Monday, the UDP said Bakary arrived in The Gambia on November 7, but the government only publicly acknowledged it over two weeks later, prompting questions about accountability.
“The manner in which this matter has been handled raises serious questions about transparency,” the party stated, adding that withholding information on sensitive issues with diplomatic implications is “unacceptable.”
While the UDP reaffirmed its support for Bakary’s right to refuge, it stressed that “solidarity must not justify secrecy or erode democratic accountability.”
The party urged the government to provide a full account to the National Assembly and the public regarding Bakary’s stay, security guarantees, and any related diplomatic assurances.
No official comment has yet been made by Gambian authorities.