Cameroonian Opposition Leader Confronts Legal Proceedings Regarding Post-Election Violence, Government Says

Election Demonstration in Cameroon
Many in Cameroon show outrage over the fact that the president has won an eighth consecutive term

Cameroon's Interior Minister the interior minister has stated that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he instigated "aggressive electoral rallies".

No fewer than 4 protesters have been fatally wounded during confrontations between security forces and protesters since Cameroon's election on October 12, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya winning an eighth term in office.

Tchiroma Bakary asserts that he won the election, a claim dismissed by the incumbent party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Violent crackdowns by law enforcement on protesters have alarmed the world leaders, with the UN, African Union and EU urging moderation.

Official's Claims

On Tuesday, the interior minister charged the opposition figure of planning what he described as "unlawful" demonstrations causing the deaths, and also rebuked him for announcing success in the electoral contest.

He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "accomplices involved in an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.

Election Results

The president, who assumed office in the early 80s and is now the most elderly national leader, secured the October 12 election with a majority of the votes, compared to 35.2% for Tchiroma Bakary, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.

Challenger's Position

The opposition figure is remains silent to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had earlier stated that he refused to acknowledge a rigged election - and that he was not afraid of being detained.

When results were announced, he said that armed men opened fire on demonstrators present near his house in Garoua, causing the death of at least two people.

Investigation Revealed

On Tuesday, the interior minister disclosed that an inquiry would be initiated into clashes prior to and following the declaration of the vote outcome.

"During these attacks, some of the criminals died," he said, without offering a precise figure of protesters who have been killed in the incidents.

The minister added that several officers of the security forces also suffered major harm.

Ongoing Circumstances

Even though Nji insisted the condition throughout Cameroon was now stable, demonstrators continue to protest in various areas of the country, especially in Douala and Garoua, where protesters set up barricades on that day, and ignited rubber on the roads.

Observers warn that the political turmoil could lead the country into a governmental instability.

Jordan Bonilla
Jordan Bonilla

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