Cameroon Opposition Figure Confronts Legal Action Regarding Election Unrest, Government Says
Cameroon's Interior Minister the interior minister has declared that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over allegations that he instigated "violent election protests".
No fewer than four protesters have been killed during confrontations between security forces and protesters since the presidential election on 12 October, with the 92-year-old head of state securing an eighth consecutive term.
Issa Tchiroma insists that he was the true winner, a claim dismissed by Biya's ruling party, the CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by security personnel on demonstrators have worried the global community, with the United Nations, AU and EU urging moderation.
Minister's Claims
Recently, Nji alleged Tchiroma Bakary of coordinating what he described as "illegal" rallies leading to the deaths, and also criticised him for announcing success in the electoral contest.
He further stated that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators behind an rebellious scheme" will also undergo judicial processes.
Vote Outcome
Paul Biya, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, won the October 12 vote with a majority of the votes, compared to a significant minority for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the electoral authority.
Opposition Response
The opposition figure is has not yet commented to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had before announced that he would not accept a stolen vote - and that he was not afraid of being taken into custody.
Following the vote count, he claimed that gunmen shot on demonstrators present near his house in Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 civilians.
Inquiry Announced
On Tuesday, the interior minister revealed that an probe would be initiated into clashes before and after the announcement of the poll figures.
"During these attacks, some of the individuals involved were killed," he commented, without providing a exact count of protesters who have been killed in the clashes.
The minister noted that a number of personnel of the law enforcement also suffered significant wounds.
Present Conditions
While the interior minister asserted the situation throughout Cameroon was now manageable, protesters remain active in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters established barricades on that day, and ignited rubber on the roads.
Analysts warn that the post-electoral violence could lead the country into a political crisis.