Cameroon Political Opposition Figure Faces Legal Action Over Electoral Turmoil, Government Says

Election Protest in Cameroon
Numerous in Cameroon express anger that the president has secured an eighth presidential term

Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has announced that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over allegations that he instigated "aggressive post-election demonstrations".

A minimum of 4 demonstrators have been killed during confrontations between law enforcement and opposition supporters since the presidential election on October 12, with the 92-year-old head of state securing an eighth term in office.

Issa Tchiroma maintains that he emerged victorious, a claim rejected by the incumbent party, the CPDM.

Aggressive responses by law enforcement on protesters have alarmed the global community, with the United Nations, African Union and EU calling for moderation.

Minister's Accusations

Recently, Nji alleged the opposition figure of coordinating what he referred to as "unauthorized" rallies causing the deaths, and also condemned him for announcing success in the election.

He added that Tchiroma Bakary's "accomplices responsible for an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.

Poll Figures

The president, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the world's oldest head of state, secured the October 12 election with over half of the vote, compared to 35.2% for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the constitutional court.

Challenger's Position

The opposition figure is has not yet commented to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had earlier declared that he refused to acknowledge a rigged election - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.

When results were announced, he reported that armed men used lethal force on protesters assembled near his house in Garoua, causing the death of at least two civilians.

Investigation Revealed

On Tuesday, the government official disclosed that an investigation would be started into violent incidents before and after the declaration of the poll figures.

"In the course of these incidents, some of the criminals lost their lives," he said, without offering a specific number of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the incidents.

Nji further mentioned that a number of members of the law enforcement also sustained serious injuries.

Ongoing Circumstances

Although Nji insisted the situation throughout Cameroon was now under control, protesters remain active in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where demonstrators set up roadblocks on that day, and set fire to tires on the streets.

Analysts caution that the political turmoil could push the nation into a political crisis.

Hunter Medina
Hunter Medina

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