Cameroonian Opposition Leader Faces Legal Action Over Election Unrest, Government Says

Election Protest in Cameroon
Numerous in Cameroon show outrage that Paul Biya has won an eighth term

Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has stated that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over accusations that he incited "aggressive electoral rallies".

A minimum of 4 protesters have been fatally wounded during skirmishes between law enforcement and protesters since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 winning an eighth term in office.

Tchiroma Bakary asserts that he was the true winner, a assertion rejected by Biya's ruling party, the ruling CPDM.

Forceful measures by law enforcement on protesters have alarmed the global community, with the UN, African Union and EU urging caution.

Official's Accusations

On Tuesday, the interior minister charged the opposition figure of planning what he described as "unlawful" protests causing the deaths, and also criticised him for declaring victory in the presidential race.

He further stated that Tchiroma Bakary's "associates behind an insurrectionary plan" will also be prosecuted.

Election Results

Cameroon's leader, who came to power in the early 80s and is now the most elderly national leader, secured the 12 October election with a majority of the votes, compared to a significant minority for the challenger, according to the constitutional court.

Challenger's Position

Issa Tchiroma is has not yet commented to the official announcement to try him, but he had previously announced that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being arrested.

Following the vote count, he reported that armed men shot on protesters present near his residence in Garoua, causing the death of at least two people.

Inquiry Revealed

Recently, the interior minister announced that an probe would be initiated into unrest surrounding the publication of the vote outcome.

"During these attacks, some of the perpetrators were killed," he said, without giving a specific number of protesters who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.

The minister added that a number of officers of the security forces also suffered significant wounds.

Current Situation

Although Nji maintained the situation across the country was now stable, demonstrators are still demonstrating in some parts of the country, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators mounted barricades on Tuesday, and ignited tires on the thoroughfares.

Observers caution that the political turmoil could lead the nation into a governmental instability.

Timothy Dawson
Timothy Dawson

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