Cameroonian Political Opposition Leader Faces Legal Action Regarding Election Unrest, Government Declares
The nation's Interior Minister the interior minister has announced that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over claims that he provoked "aggressive post-election demonstrations".
A minimum of four demonstrators have been lost their lives during clashes between police and military and protesters since the presidential election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth term in office.
Issa Tchiroma maintains that he emerged victorious, a assertion rejected by Biya's ruling party, the ruling CPDM.
Forceful measures by law enforcement on protesters have concerned the world leaders, with the UN, AU and EU urging restraint.
Minister's Allegations
On Tuesday, Nji alleged the opposition figure of planning what he referred to as "unauthorized" rallies leading to the loss of lives, and also rebuked him for declaring victory in the election.
He further stated that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators behind an insurrectionary plan" will also undergo judicial processes.
Vote Outcome
The president, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, won the 12 October vote with over half of the vote, compared to just over a third for Tchiroma Bakary, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Challenger's Position
Tchiroma Bakary is remains silent to the official announcement to try him, but he had earlier declared that he would not accept a rigged election - and that he was fearless of being arrested.
On election result day, he said that armed men shot on protesters gathered near his home in Garoua, killing at least 2 individuals.
Investigation Launched
Recently, the interior minister disclosed that an probe would be started into clashes surrounding the publication of the vote outcome.
"In the course of these incidents, some of the perpetrators died," he said, without offering a precise figure of protesters who have been fatally injured in the incidents.
Nji noted that a number of personnel of the law enforcement also received serious injuries.
Ongoing Circumstances
Even though Nji asserted the state of affairs across the country was now stable, protesters are still demonstrating in various areas of the nation, especially in urban centers, where protesters mounted barricades on that day, and set fire to tyres on the thoroughfares.
Analysts alert that the election-related unrest could lead the country into a governmental instability.
