Cameroonian Political Opposition Leader Confronts Court Action Concerning Post-Election Violence, Government Says

Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has stated that opposition leader Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over claims that he instigated "violent electoral rallies".

No fewer than 4 demonstrators have been lost their lives during confrontations between security forces and protesters since the electoral process on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya obtaining an eighth consecutive term.

Issa Tchiroma insists that he won the election, a claim dismissed by the governing party, the CPDM.

Aggressive responses by security personnel on demonstrators have alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, AU and EU urging caution.

Official's Allegations

Earlier this week, the interior minister charged the opposition figure of planning what he described as "unlawful" demonstrations leading to the loss of lives, and also condemned him for claiming win in the electoral contest.

He further stated that the opposition leader's "accomplices behind an insurrectionary plan" will also face legal action.

Election Results

Paul Biya, who came to power in the early 80s and is now the world's oldest head of state, won the October 12 election with over half of the vote, compared to just over a third for the challenger, according to the constitutional court.

Opposition Response

The opposition figure is has not yet commented to the government's decision to bring him to court, but he had earlier announced that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was undaunted of being detained.

Following the vote count, he reported that security forces used lethal force on protesters gathered near his residence in Garoua, causing the death of at least two civilians.

Investigation Revealed

Recently, the government official revealed that an investigation would be initiated into clashes before and after the publication of the poll figures.

"During these attacks, some of the individuals involved were killed," he stated, without providing a specific number of demonstrators who have been killed in the confrontations.

The minister added that a number of officers of the security forces also suffered major harm.

Present Conditions

Even though the interior minister asserted the state of affairs nationwide was now stable, demonstrators are still demonstrating in certain regions of the nation, especially in these two cities, where protesters established roadblocks on Tuesday, and burnt rubber on the thoroughfares.

Observers caution that the political turmoil could push the nation into a leadership vacuum.