Cameroonian Opposition Leader Faces Court Action Concerning Election Unrest, Government Says

Cameroon's Interior Minister the interior minister has announced that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over allegations that he provoked "aggressive post-election demonstrations".

At least 4 protesters have been lost their lives during confrontations between security forces and demonstrators since the presidential election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth consecutive term.

Issa Tchiroma maintains that he won the election, a assertion dismissed by Biya's ruling party, the ruling CPDM.

Aggressive responses by security personnel on demonstrators have alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, African Union and EU calling for restraint.

Official's Claims

Recently, Nji charged the opposition figure of planning what he labeled "unlawful" rallies resulting in the deaths, and also condemned him for announcing success in the election.

He added that the opposition leader's "co-conspirators involved in an insurrectionary plan" will also be prosecuted.

Election Results

Cameroon's leader, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, secured the October 12 vote with over half of the vote, compared to 35.2% for the challenger, according to the constitutional court.

Leader's Stance

Tchiroma Bakary is yet to respond to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had before announced that he would not accept a rigged election - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.

Following the vote count, he claimed that armed men shot on demonstrators present near his home in Garoua, killing at least 2 civilians.

Probe Announced

Earlier this week, the government official disclosed that an investigation would be started into violent incidents before and after the publication of the vote outcome.

"In the course of these incidents, some of the individuals involved lost their lives," he said, without providing a specific number of demonstrators who have been killed in the incidents.

The minister added that multiple personnel of the police and military also received major harm.

Ongoing Circumstances

Even though the interior minister maintained the state of affairs nationwide was now stable, demonstrators are still demonstrating in some parts of the country, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators mounted roadblocks on that day, and set fire to rubber on the thoroughfares.

Observers warn that the election-related unrest could push the country into a governmental instability.