Cameroon Political Opposition Leader Faces Legal Proceedings Regarding Post-Election Violence, Authorities Says
Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over claims that he instigated "aggressive election protests".
No fewer than four protesters have been fatally wounded during clashes between security forces and demonstrators since the presidential election on 12 October, with the 92-year-old head of state securing an eighth consecutive term.
Issa Tchiroma insists that he won the election, a assertion rejected by the governing party, the CPDM.
Forceful measures by law enforcement on protesters have alarmed the world leaders, with the UN, AU and EU urging restraint.
Official's Accusations
On Tuesday, Nji charged Tchiroma Bakary of coordinating what he labeled "unauthorized" demonstrations resulting in the fatalities, and also criticised him for claiming win in the electoral contest.
He added that Tchiroma Bakary's "accomplices behind an subversive plot" will also face legal action.
Election Results
The president, who came to power in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the 12 October presidential election with a majority of the votes, compared to just over a third for his opponent, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Challenger's Position
Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had previously declared that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was undaunted of being detained.
On election result day, he said that armed men opened fire on demonstrators assembled near his home in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 individuals.
Probe Revealed
Earlier this week, the interior minister revealed that an investigation would be started into unrest surrounding the publication of the poll figures.
"In the course of these incidents, some of the individuals involved were killed," he commented, without offering a specific number of protesters who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.
Nji further mentioned that a number of personnel of the law enforcement also received significant wounds.
Ongoing Circumstances
While the interior minister maintained the condition nationwide was now manageable, protesters are still demonstrating in some parts of the country, especially in urban centers, where demonstrators set up barricades on Tuesday, and set fire to rubber on the roads.
Analysts caution that the election-related unrest could plunge the country into a leadership vacuum.
