The Gambian government announced on Sunday that it had welcomed onto its territory "for humanitarian reasons" and for his "security" Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who claims victory in the October 12 presidential election against President Paul Biya, re-elected for an 8th term.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former minister who has switched to the opposition, claims to have won the election against Paul Biya, 92, who was re-elected as head of Cameroon with 53.66% of the vote, according to official figures.

Mr. Biya's re-election has led to protests that have been violently suppressed across the country.

"There are now two presidents, the president elected by the Cameroonian people, which is me, and the president appointed by the Constitutional Council, which you know," Issa Tchiroma Bakary had proclaimed on his social networks the day before Mr. Biya's inauguration.

Gambia has been hosting the opposition leader since November 7 "for humanitarian reasons" and to "ensure his safety while discussions continue to find a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to post-election tensions," the Gambian Ministry of Information said in a statement.

Gambian authorities assure that the country "will not serve as a base for subversive activities against any country".

Mr. Tchiroma has repeatedly called on his supporters to defend what he considers his victory. Sporadic and limited demonstrations—involving a few hundred young people—in several Cameroonian cities were violently suppressed after the announcement on October 27 of Mr. Biya's re-election.

The government acknowledged "loss of life" during these demonstrations without providing a toll or details of dates or locations.

The NGO Human Rights Watch condemned the use of "lethal force" and "mass arrests of protesters and other citizens" during the crackdown on these post-election protests.