Cameroonian Political Opposition Leader to Face Legal Proceedings Concerning Election Unrest, Government Announces
Cameroon's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has stated that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over allegations that he provoked "aggressive election protests".
No fewer than four protesters have been fatally wounded during clashes between law enforcement and opposition supporters since Cameroon's election on October 12, with the 92-year-old head of state winning an eighth term in office.
Issa Tchiroma maintains that he won the election, a claim disputed by the incumbent party, the CPDM.
Aggressive responses by law enforcement on demonstrators have concerned the international community, with the United Nations, African Union and European Union calling for restraint.
Official's Allegations
Recently, Nji alleged the opposition figure of organising what he labeled "illegal" rallies resulting in the fatalities, and also criticised him for announcing success in the election.
He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators behind an subversive plot" will also undergo judicial processes.
Poll Figures
The president, who took control in the early 80s and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the 12 October vote with over half of the votes, compared to 35.2% for the challenger, according to the constitutional court.
Challenger's Position
Issa Tchiroma is has not yet commented to the official announcement to prosecute him, but he had earlier announced that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.
When results were announced, he said that armed men opened fire on demonstrators gathered near his house in Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 individuals.
Investigation Revealed
On Tuesday, the interior minister announced that an inquiry would be started into unrest before and after the declaration of the vote outcome.
"In the course of these incidents, some of the perpetrators were killed," he stated, without giving a exact count of protesters who have been killed in the confrontations.
Nji further mentioned that multiple officers of the law enforcement also suffered serious injuries.
Present Conditions
Even though Nji asserted the situation throughout Cameroon was now manageable, demonstrators are still demonstrating in some parts of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters set up obstructions on that day, and set fire to tyres on the roads.
Experts caution that the post-electoral violence could push the nation into a governmental instability.
