Cameroonian Opposition Figure Faces Court Action Concerning Election Unrest, Government Announces
Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has announced that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over allegations that he instigated "violent post-election demonstrations".
A minimum of four demonstrators have been killed during clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators since Cameroon's election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 securing an eighth presidential mandate.
Tchiroma Bakary insists that he won the election, a statement rejected by Biya's ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).
Forceful measures by security personnel on demonstrators have worried the world leaders, with the United Nations, African Union and EU urging moderation.
Official's Allegations
On Tuesday, Nji accused the opposition figure of planning what he referred to as "illegal" protests leading to the loss of lives, and also rebuked him for announcing success in the presidential race.
He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators involved in an subversive plot" will also face legal action.
Vote Outcome
The president, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the October 12 election with over half of the ballots, compared to 35.2% for the challenger, according to the electoral authority.
Opposition Response
The opposition figure is remains silent to the official announcement to try him, but he had previously declared that he would not accept a stolen vote - and that he was undaunted of being detained.
On election result day, he said that gunmen opened fire on protesters present near his home in Garoua, causing the death of at least two civilians.
Investigation Revealed
Earlier this week, the government official disclosed that an inquiry would be launched into violent incidents prior to and following the announcement of the poll figures.
"During these attacks, some of the criminals died," he stated, without giving a precise figure of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the clashes.
Nji added that a number of officers of the law enforcement also received significant wounds.
Present Conditions
Even though the interior minister maintained the situation across the country was now manageable, protesters continue to protest in certain regions of the nation, especially in Douala and Garoua, where protesters established obstructions on that day, and ignited rubber on the thoroughfares.
Experts alert that the election-related unrest could plunge the country into a leadership vacuum.