Cameroon Political Opposition Figure Faces Court Action Over Electoral Turmoil, Authorities Says
The nation's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has announced that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over claims that he incited "violent post-election demonstrations".
A minimum of 4 demonstrators have been killed during skirmishes between security forces and demonstrators since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 winning an eighth consecutive term.
Issa Tchiroma insists that he won the election, a claim rejected by Biya's ruling party, the CPDM.
Aggressive responses by law enforcement on demonstrators have alarmed the international community, with the UN, AU and European Union urging moderation.
Minister's Claims
Earlier this week, Nji charged the opposition figure of coordinating what he described as "illegal" rallies resulting in the fatalities, and also criticised him for declaring victory in the election.
He added that Tchiroma Bakary's "associates responsible for an subversive plot" will also face legal action.
Election Results
Paul Biya, who assumed office in the early 80s and is now the most elderly national leader, secured the October 12 election with over half of the ballots, compared to 35.2% for his opponent, according to the electoral authority.
Challenger's Position
Tchiroma Bakary is yet to respond to the authorities' move to prosecute him, but he had previously declared that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.
Following the vote count, he reported that armed men opened fire on demonstrators gathered near his home in Garoua, fatally wounding at least two people.
Investigation Announced
On Tuesday, the interior minister announced that an inquiry would be launched into unrest surrounding the announcement of the poll figures.
"During these attacks, some of the individuals involved lost their lives," he commented, without giving a precise figure of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the clashes.
The minister noted that several personnel of the law enforcement also received serious injuries.
Current Situation
While Nji maintained the situation nationwide was now manageable, demonstrators continue to protest in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters established obstructions on that day, and set fire to tires on the roads.
Observers caution that the election-related unrest could push the nation into a governmental instability.
