Cameroonian Political Opposition Figure to Face Court Action Over Post-Election Violence, Authorities Says
The nation's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has announced that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over claims that he incited "aggressive electoral rallies".
A minimum of 4 protesters have been fatally wounded during confrontations between police and military and protesters since the presidential election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 obtaining an eighth consecutive term.
Issa Tchiroma asserts that he was the true winner, a assertion disputed by the incumbent party, the CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by law enforcement on protesters have concerned the international community, with the United Nations, AU and European Union calling for moderation.
Official's Claims
On Tuesday, Nji alleged the opposition figure of coordinating what he labeled "unlawful" demonstrations leading to the fatalities, and also rebuked him for announcing success in the presidential race.
He further stated that the opposition leader's "accomplices behind an rebellious scheme" will also face legal action.
Poll Figures
Cameroon's leader, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, won the October 12 vote with a majority of the ballots, compared to just over a third for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the electoral authority.
Opposition Response
Tchiroma Bakary is has not yet commented to the official announcement to prosecute him, but he had previously declared that he refused to acknowledge a rigged election - and that he was undaunted of being arrested.
When results were announced, he claimed that security forces shot on demonstrators present near his home in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 people.
Inquiry Announced
Recently, the interior minister announced that an inquiry would be initiated into violent incidents surrounding the announcement of the election results.
"During these attacks, some of the perpetrators died," he said, without giving a specific number of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the clashes.
Nji noted that a number of personnel of the law enforcement also received major harm.
Ongoing Circumstances
Even though the interior minister insisted the state of affairs across the country was now manageable, demonstrators remain active in some parts of the nation, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators established barricades on that day, and ignited rubber on the streets.
Analysts warn that the post-electoral violence could plunge the nation into a leadership vacuum.
