Cameroonian Political Opposition Figure Confronts Court Action Over Electoral Turmoil, Government Says

Election Demonstration in Cameroon
Numerous in Cameroon show outrage that the president has secured an eighth presidential term

The nation's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he incited "aggressive election protests".

A minimum of four demonstrators have been lost their lives during confrontations between police and military and opposition supporters since the presidential election on October 12, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 securing an eighth term in office.

Tchiroma Bakary asserts that he was the true winner, a statement dismissed by the incumbent party, the ruling CPDM.

Violent crackdowns by security personnel on protesters have alarmed the world leaders, with the UN, AU and European Union demanding caution.

Minister's Allegations

Recently, Nji alleged the opposition figure of planning what he labeled "unlawful" protests resulting in the loss of lives, and also rebuked him for declaring victory in the electoral contest.

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

Vote Outcome

Paul Biya, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, won the 12 October presidential election with a majority of the ballots, compared to just over a third for the challenger, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.

Opposition Response

Tchiroma Bakary is has not yet commented to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had before announced that he refused to acknowledge a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being taken into custody.

On election result day, he reported that gunmen used lethal force on demonstrators present near his residence in the city of Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 individuals.

Investigation Announced

On Tuesday, the government official announced that an probe would be started into clashes before and after the publication of the election results.

"During these attacks, some of the perpetrators died," he commented, without offering a precise figure of protesters who have been lost their lives in the clashes.

The minister added that multiple personnel of the police and military also sustained major harm.

Ongoing Circumstances

Although the interior minister asserted the situation nationwide was now manageable, protesters continue to protest in certain regions of the country, especially in Douala and Garoua, where protesters set up barricades on Tuesday, and set fire to tires on the thoroughfares.

Observers alert that the political turmoil could push the nation into a governmental instability.

Paul Torres
Paul Torres

Lena Weber is a political scientist and journalist with over a decade of experience in media analysis and investigative reporting.