Cameroonian Political Opposition Leader Confronts Court Action Over Electoral Turmoil, Authorities Announces
Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has declared that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over accusations that he provoked "violent electoral rallies".
A minimum of 4 demonstrators have been killed during skirmishes between law enforcement and protesters since the electoral process on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth presidential mandate.
The opposition leader maintains that he emerged victorious, a claim dismissed by Biya's ruling party, the CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by security personnel on protesters have worried the world leaders, with the United Nations, African Union and European Union demanding caution.
Minister's Accusations
On Tuesday, the interior minister charged Tchiroma Bakary of coordinating what he labeled "unauthorized" demonstrations leading to the deaths, and also rebuked him for claiming win in the election.
He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators behind an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.
Vote Outcome
Cameroon's leader, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, obtained the October 12 election with a majority of the vote, compared to just over a third for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.
Opposition Response
Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the government's decision to bring him to court, but he had before declared that he rejected a rigged election - and that he was undaunted of being arrested.
When results were announced, he claimed that security forces opened fire on protesters present near his house in Garoua, killing at least 2 civilians.
Probe Announced
Recently, the interior minister disclosed that an investigation would be launched into unrest prior to and following the declaration of the poll figures.
"Throughout the violence, some of the criminals lost their lives," he said, without giving a exact count of protesters who have been fatally injured in the clashes.
Nji further mentioned that multiple officers of the security forces also received major harm.
Present Conditions
Even though the interior minister maintained the condition throughout Cameroon was now under control, demonstrators are still demonstrating in some parts of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters set up obstructions on that day, and burnt rubber on the thoroughfares.
Experts caution that the post-electoral violence could push the country into a governmental instability.
