Cameroon Opposition Figure Confronts Court Action Regarding Electoral Turmoil, Authorities Declares
The nation's Interior Minister the interior minister has stated that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over allegations that he provoked "violent election protests".
No fewer than four protesters have been fatally wounded during skirmishes between law enforcement and protesters since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya winning an eighth consecutive term.
Issa Tchiroma insists that he was the true winner, a statement rejected by Biya's ruling party, the CPDM.
Violent crackdowns by law enforcement on protesters have worried the world leaders, with the United Nations, AU and European Union urging restraint.
Official's Claims
On Tuesday, the interior minister alleged the opposition figure of planning what he described as "unlawful" demonstrations leading to the fatalities, and also condemned him for claiming win in the electoral contest.
He added that the opposition leader's "associates behind an rebellious scheme" will also be prosecuted.
Poll Figures
The president, who took control in 1982 and is now the oldest serving president, secured the October 12 vote with 53.7% of the ballots, compared to a significant minority for the challenger, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Opposition Response
Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the authorities' move to bring him to court, but he had before announced that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being arrested.
On election result day, he reported that armed men opened fire on demonstrators assembled near his residence in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least two people.
Investigation Announced
On Tuesday, the interior minister disclosed that an investigation would be initiated into clashes prior to and following the publication of the poll figures.
"In the course of these incidents, some of the criminals died," he said, without offering a precise figure of demonstrators who have been killed in the incidents.
The minister added that a number of officers of the security forces also received significant wounds.
Current Situation
Although the interior minister insisted the situation nationwide was now under control, demonstrators remain active in certain regions of the nation, especially in these two cities, where protesters established obstructions on that day, and ignited rubber on the streets.
Experts alert that the election-related unrest could lead the nation into a political crisis.
