Cameroon Political Opposition Figure to Face Legal Action Concerning Election Unrest, Government Declares
Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has announced that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he incited "aggressive electoral rallies".
At least four demonstrators have been killed during clashes between security forces and opposition supporters since Cameroon's election on October 12, with the 92-year-old head of state securing an eighth term in office.
Tchiroma Bakary insists that he was the true winner, a assertion disputed by the governing party, the CPDM.
Forceful measures by police and security officers on demonstrators have worried the global community, with the UN, African Union and European Union calling for caution.
Official's Claims
Recently, the interior minister charged the opposition figure of coordinating what he labeled "unlawful" rallies resulting in the deaths, and also rebuked him for claiming win in the electoral contest.
He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "accomplices responsible for an subversive plot" will also face legal action.
Poll Figures
The president, who took control in 1982 and is now the oldest serving president, obtained the 12 October election with over half of the votes, compared to just over a third for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the constitutional court.
Challenger's Position
Tchiroma Bakary is remains silent to the official announcement to try him, but he had earlier stated that he refused to acknowledge a stolen vote - and that he was fearless of being arrested.
Following the vote count, he reported that armed men used lethal force on demonstrators gathered near his residence in Garoua, killing at least two people.
Probe Revealed
Earlier this week, the government official disclosed that an investigation would be launched into clashes prior to and following the publication of the poll figures.
"Throughout the violence, some of the individuals involved lost their lives," he stated, without offering a specific number of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the confrontations.
The minister further mentioned that several members of the security forces also suffered significant wounds.
Current Situation
Even though Nji asserted the situation across the country was now under control, protesters remain active in certain regions of the nation, especially in Douala and Garoua, where protesters mounted barricades on that day, and burnt tyres on the roads.
Analysts warn that the election-related unrest could lead the country into a governmental instability.