Cameroonian Opposition Figure Confronts Legal Action Concerning Electoral Turmoil, Authorities Declares
Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has stated that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over claims that he incited "aggressive election protests".
A minimum of four demonstrators have been lost their lives during confrontations between police and military and opposition supporters since the electoral process on October 12, with the 92-year-old head of state obtaining an eighth term in office.
The opposition leader maintains that he won the election, a statement rejected by Biya's ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).
Violent crackdowns by law enforcement on demonstrators have worried the global community, with the United Nations, AU and EU calling for caution.
Minister's Accusations
On Tuesday, Nji alleged the opposition figure of planning what he labeled "unauthorized" protests leading to the loss of lives, and also condemned him for declaring victory in the electoral contest.
He further stated that the opposition leader's "associates responsible for an insurrectionary plan" will also face legal action.
Vote Outcome
Cameroon's leader, who took control in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, won the 12 October vote with a majority of the vote, compared to just over a third for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.
Challenger's Position
Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the authorities' move to bring him to court, but he had previously stated that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.
Following the vote count, he said that gunmen used lethal force on protesters gathered near his house in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 people.
Inquiry Announced
On Tuesday, the interior minister revealed that an probe would be started into clashes surrounding the declaration of the poll figures.
"During these attacks, some of the individuals involved lost their lives," he commented, without offering a precise figure of protesters who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.
The minister added that multiple personnel of the security forces also received major harm.
Ongoing Circumstances
Although Nji insisted the situation throughout Cameroon was now stable, demonstrators continue to protest in some parts of the nation, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators established roadblocks on that day, and ignited rubber on the streets.
Analysts caution that the political turmoil could plunge the nation into a governmental instability.