Cameroonian Political Opposition Figure Confronts Court Action Concerning Election Unrest, Government Says
Cameroon's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has stated that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over allegations that he incited "aggressive post-election demonstrations".
No fewer than 4 demonstrators have been fatally wounded during clashes between security forces and protesters since the electoral process on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya securing an eighth presidential mandate.
Tchiroma Bakary asserts that he was the true winner, a claim dismissed by the governing party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).
Violent crackdowns by police and security officers on protesters have concerned the world leaders, with the United Nations, African Union and European Union urging restraint.
Minister's Claims
Recently, Nji charged the opposition figure of coordinating what he referred to as "illegal" demonstrations causing the fatalities, and also rebuked him for announcing success in the presidential race.
He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "associates responsible for an rebellious scheme" will also face legal action.
Vote Outcome
The president, who took control in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the 12 October presidential election with over half of the votes, compared to just over a third for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.
Leader's Stance
Issa Tchiroma is remains silent to the authorities' move to try him, but he had previously stated that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being detained.
On election result day, he claimed that gunmen shot on protesters present near his home in Garoua, killing at least two people.
Probe Revealed
On Tuesday, the government official announced that an inquiry would be initiated into unrest surrounding the announcement of the vote outcome.
"In the course of these incidents, some of the criminals died," he said, without giving a precise figure of protesters who have been killed in the incidents.
The minister noted that several officers of the security forces also sustained significant wounds.
Current Situation
While the interior minister maintained the condition across the country was now manageable, protesters continue to protest in certain regions of the country, especially in urban centers, where protesters established barricades on that day, and ignited rubber on the roads.
Experts warn that the political turmoil could plunge the nation into a governmental instability.
