Cameroonian Opposition Leader Confronts Legal Action Concerning Post-Election Violence, Authorities Says
The nation's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has stated that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over allegations that he provoked "aggressive electoral rallies".
At least four demonstrators have been lost their lives during clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya securing an eighth consecutive term.
Tchiroma Bakary maintains that he won the election, a statement rejected by the governing party, the ruling CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by security personnel on demonstrators have concerned the international community, with the UN, AU and European Union demanding restraint.
Minister's Allegations
On Tuesday, the interior minister alleged the opposition figure of coordinating what he referred to as "unlawful" demonstrations resulting in the loss of lives, and also criticised him for announcing success in the presidential race.
He added that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators behind an insurrectionary plan" will also undergo judicial processes.
Poll Figures
Paul Biya, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the October 12 election with a majority of the vote, compared to a significant minority for the challenger, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Leader's Stance
The opposition figure is has not yet commented to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had previously stated that he refused to acknowledge a fraudulent outcome - and that he was undaunted of being taken into custody.
Following the vote count, he said that gunmen opened fire on demonstrators assembled near his residence in Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 individuals.
Probe Revealed
Earlier this week, the interior minister revealed that an inquiry would be launched into violent incidents before and after the publication of the poll figures.
"During these attacks, some of the perpetrators died," he stated, without providing a precise figure of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the incidents.
The minister noted that several personnel of the law enforcement also sustained major harm.
Ongoing Circumstances
Even though the interior minister maintained the condition throughout Cameroon was now stable, protesters remain active in some parts of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters established barricades on that day, and set fire to tyres on the roads.
Analysts warn that the political turmoil could lead the country into a leadership vacuum.