Cameroonian Political Opposition Figure Confronts Court Action Concerning Election Unrest, Authorities Says
Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over accusations that he provoked "violent electoral rallies".
No fewer than four demonstrators have been fatally wounded during skirmishes between law enforcement and protesters since the presidential election on October 12, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya winning an eighth presidential mandate.
Issa Tchiroma asserts that he was the true winner, a claim rejected by the incumbent party, the CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by law enforcement on demonstrators have concerned the international community, with the United Nations, AU and European Union urging caution.
Minister's Allegations
Earlier this week, Nji alleged Tchiroma Bakary of organising what he referred to as "unlawful" protests causing the deaths, and also criticised him for claiming win in the presidential race.
He noted that the opposition leader's "co-conspirators involved in an insurrectionary plan" will also undergo judicial processes.
Vote Outcome
Paul Biya, who took control in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, won the 12 October election with a majority of the votes, compared to a significant minority for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.
Challenger's Position
Tchiroma Bakary is yet to respond to the government's decision to try him, but he had earlier declared that he rejected a stolen vote - and that he was not afraid of being detained.
When results were announced, he said that armed men opened fire on protesters gathered near his residence in Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 civilians.
Inquiry Revealed
Earlier this week, the interior minister disclosed that an inquiry would be started into unrest surrounding the declaration of the poll figures.
"Throughout the violence, some of the perpetrators were killed," he stated, without offering a exact count of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the incidents.
Nji further mentioned that several members of the law enforcement also sustained serious injuries.
Present Conditions
While the interior minister maintained the situation throughout Cameroon was now stable, protesters remain active in certain regions of the nation, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators mounted obstructions on that day, and burnt rubber on the roads.
Observers warn that the election-related unrest could lead the nation into a political crisis.
