Cameroon Opposition Leader Faces Legal Proceedings Over Electoral Turmoil, Government Announces
The nation's Interior Minister the interior minister has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over claims that he incited "aggressive post-election demonstrations".
No fewer than 4 demonstrators have been killed during clashes between police and military and opposition supporters since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya winning an eighth term in office.
Tchiroma Bakary maintains that he emerged victorious, a claim rejected by the governing party, the ruling CPDM.
Aggressive responses by security personnel on demonstrators have alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, AU and European Union urging restraint.
Official's Claims
Recently, Nji accused the opposition figure of planning what he labeled "unlawful" rallies causing the fatalities, and also criticised him for claiming win in the election.
He added that the opposition leader's "co-conspirators involved in an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.
Election Results
The president, who came to power in the early 80s and is now the world's oldest head of state, won the 12 October election with 53.7% of the votes, compared to a significant minority for his opponent, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Leader's Stance
The opposition figure is has not yet commented to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had previously stated that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being taken into custody.
When results were announced, he said that armed men shot on demonstrators assembled near his house in Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 individuals.
Inquiry Announced
On Tuesday, the interior minister announced that an investigation would be launched into violent incidents prior to and following the declaration of the election results.
"In the course of these incidents, some of the perpetrators died," he stated, without offering a precise figure of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.
The minister added that multiple members of the security forces also suffered serious injuries.
Ongoing Circumstances
Even though Nji maintained the situation nationwide was now stable, demonstrators remain active in some parts of the nation, especially in Douala and Garoua, where demonstrators set up roadblocks on Tuesday, and ignited rubber on the roads.
Analysts warn that the political turmoil could push the nation into a governmental instability.