Cameroonian Opposition Figure Confronts Legal Proceedings Regarding Election Unrest, Authorities Declares
The nation's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has stated that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he provoked "violent election protests".
A minimum of 4 protesters have been lost their lives during clashes between law enforcement and opposition supporters since Cameroon's election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 securing an eighth consecutive term.
The opposition leader maintains that he emerged victorious, a assertion dismissed by the governing party, the ruling CPDM.
Forceful measures by police and security officers on protesters have concerned the world leaders, with the UN, African Union and EU urging moderation.
Minister's Claims
On Tuesday, the interior minister alleged the opposition figure of coordinating what he referred to as "illegal" protests causing the loss of lives, and also criticised him for declaring victory in the election.
He noted that the opposition leader's "accomplices behind an subversive plot" will also undergo judicial processes.
Poll Figures
Paul Biya, who took control in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, obtained the 12 October vote with a majority of the ballots, compared to 35.2% for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.
Opposition Response
Tchiroma Bakary is remains silent to the authorities' move to bring him to court, but he had before stated that he refused to acknowledge a fraudulent outcome - and that he was undaunted of being detained.
Following the vote count, he reported that gunmen used lethal force on demonstrators present near his residence in the city of Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 individuals.
Probe Revealed
Earlier this week, the interior minister announced that an inquiry would be started into clashes before and after the publication of the poll figures.
"Throughout the violence, some of the criminals died," he commented, without providing a precise figure of protesters who have been killed in the incidents.
Nji noted that multiple officers of the police and military also sustained major harm.
Present Conditions
Although the interior minister asserted the situation nationwide was now manageable, demonstrators are still demonstrating in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters mounted roadblocks on Tuesday, and ignited rubber on the roads.
Analysts alert that the election-related unrest could push the nation into a governmental instability.