Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroon’s Minister of Employment and long-time ally of President Paul Biya, has officially confirmed his resignation from the government, citing a growing disconnect between the ruling class and the suffering Cameroonian masses.
Tchiroma, a prominent figure in Cameroonian politics for over three decades, confirmed his resignation during a livestream broadcast on social media on June 26.
This came after he was reported to have submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. He also released a 24-page open letter to Cameroonians detailing his disgruntlement with the regime and the need for change in this October’s presidential election.
In his social media interview, Tchiroma’s explanation was straightforward: the government he served for years no longer represents the aspirations of Cameroonians.
“It is no secret that the vast majority of Cameroonians are struggling to make ends meet,” Tchiroma said.
“People are overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future… My responsibility, my mission, is naturally to respond to this call for help, this call for change.”
A Loyalist Turns Challenger
Tchiroma’s departure marks a dramatic shift in a career defined by loyalty to the regime.
A former Minister of Communication and leader of the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC), he has been a vocal defender of President Biya’s administration.
At the onset of a secessionist armed conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions in 2017, Tchiroma, who was then Minister of Communication, served as the face of the regime during this time of political tension and crisis.
In the lead-up to the 2018 presidential election, Tchiroma declared his party’s support for Biya, stating that, “The FSNC will support Biya until God decides otherwise.”
Now, with presidential elections just months away and uncertainty surrounding the 92-year-old President Biya’s intentions to run again, Tchiroma has cracked the wall of loyalty surrounding Biya.
Moment to Choose Between the People and Government
Tchiroma’s resignation indicates deeper fractures within the Biya regime.
In his own words, he could no longer reconcile the demands of his government role with the growing calls for reform from ordinary Cameroonians.
“As a political leader, you carry the hopes of people who trust you,” he said. “But when the government’s actions no longer meet the people’s needs, you are faced with a choice: obey the government and abandon the people—or listen to the people and step away from the government. We chose to stand with the people.”
Tchiroma’s language pointed to a political system that, in his view, has lost touch with its citizens.
Cracks in the Biya Stronghold
President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, faces increasing pressure amid economic stagnation, youth unemployment, security challenges, and long-standing allegations of corruption and repression against the opposition and journalists.
While his party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), continues to dominate official politics, recent months have seen growing calls for change.
Tchiroma’s exit, coupled with his announcement of running for October’s presidential election, signals that discontent is now surfacing from within.
For a man once seen as a stalwart of the regime to break ranks is not just symbolic; it may be the beginning of more political drama as the election approaches.
His move has raised key questions on whether other prominent figures in the regime will follow, and whether this could be the start of a long-anticipated political transition in Cameroon.
Toward the 2025 Elections
With his campaign video already circulating online, Tchiroma is positioning himself as a candidate of change and national reconciliation.
He has called on Cameroonians to mobilize across regional and political divides to build a country that listens and responds to its people.
But what is clear is that the wall of unwavering loyalty around Paul Biya is beginning to crack, and the 2025 presidential election may prove to be a defining moment in Cameroon’s post-independence history.
