Cameroonian Opposition Figure Confronts Legal Action Regarding Post-Election Violence, Authorities Declares
Cameroon's Interior Minister the interior minister has stated that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over allegations that he incited "aggressive election protests".
At least four protesters have been fatally wounded during clashes between police and military and opposition supporters since the electoral process on 12 October, with the 92-year-old head of state winning an eighth consecutive term.
Tchiroma Bakary maintains that he won the election, a assertion rejected by the governing party, the ruling CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by law enforcement on demonstrators have alarmed the global community, with the UN, AU and European Union calling for moderation.
Minister's Claims
Earlier this week, the interior minister alleged the opposition figure of organising what he referred to as "unlawful" protests leading to the fatalities, and also rebuked him for declaring victory in the election.
He noted that the opposition leader's "accomplices responsible for an subversive plot" will also face legal action.
Vote Outcome
The president, who came to power in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, won the October 12 election with 53.7% of the vote, compared to just over a third for the challenger, according to the constitutional court.
Leader's Stance
Tchiroma Bakary is has not yet commented to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had before announced that he refused to acknowledge a rigged election - and that he was fearless of being detained.
On election result day, he reported that security forces opened fire on demonstrators present near his house in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 people.
Probe Launched
Recently, the interior minister revealed that an probe would be launched into unrest surrounding the publication of the vote outcome.
"Throughout the violence, some of the individuals involved were killed," he said, without giving a precise figure of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the confrontations.
The minister noted that a number of members of the security forces also sustained serious injuries.
Ongoing Circumstances
Although Nji asserted the state of affairs throughout Cameroon was now stable, demonstrators are still demonstrating in various areas of the nation, especially in these two cities, where protesters mounted roadblocks on that day, and ignited rubber on the streets.
Analysts alert that the political turmoil could lead the nation into a political crisis.