Cameroon Political Opposition Leader to Face Legal Proceedings Concerning Election Unrest, Authorities Declares
The nation's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over accusations that he provoked "violent post-election demonstrations".
No fewer than four protesters have been killed during clashes between police and military and opposition supporters since the electoral process on 12 October, with the 92-year-old head of state obtaining an eighth term in office.
Tchiroma Bakary asserts that he won the election, a claim disputed by the governing party, the CPDM.
Forceful measures by police and security officers on demonstrators have alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, AU and European Union calling for moderation.
Minister's Claims
On Tuesday, the interior minister accused Tchiroma Bakary of coordinating what he described as "unauthorized" protests causing the fatalities, and also rebuked him for claiming win in the electoral contest.
He noted that the opposition leader's "co-conspirators involved in an rebellious scheme" will also be prosecuted.
Poll Figures
Paul Biya, who came to power in the early 80s and is now the oldest serving president, won the 12 October vote with 53.7% of the votes, compared to 35.2% for Tchiroma Bakary, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Opposition Response
The opposition figure is remains silent to the government's decision to bring him to court, but he had previously stated that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being arrested.
When results were announced, he claimed that security forces used lethal force on protesters assembled near his home in Garoua, killing at least 2 people.
Probe Revealed
On Tuesday, the interior minister disclosed that an inquiry would be initiated into clashes prior to and following the declaration of the election results.
"Throughout the violence, some of the perpetrators died," he stated, without giving a precise figure of protesters who have been fatally injured in the clashes.
The minister noted that several members of the security forces also sustained significant wounds.
Present Conditions
While Nji insisted the condition throughout Cameroon was now stable, protesters continue to protest in certain regions of the nation, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators set up roadblocks on that day, and set fire to tires on the streets.
Observers alert that the post-electoral violence could push the nation into a leadership vacuum.