Cameroonian Opposition Figure to Face Court Action Regarding Electoral Turmoil, Government Announces

Election Demonstration in Cameroon
Numerous in Cameroon show outrage that Paul Biya has secured an eighth consecutive term

Cameroon's Minister of the Interior Paul Atanga Nji has declared that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he provoked "aggressive electoral rallies".

No fewer than 4 demonstrators have been killed during confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators since Cameroon's election on October 12, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya winning an eighth term in office.

Issa Tchiroma asserts that he was the true winner, a assertion dismissed by Biya's ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Aggressive responses by law enforcement on protesters have worried the international community, with the UN, AU and European Union demanding moderation.

Official's Claims

On Tuesday, the interior minister alleged Tchiroma Bakary of planning what he labeled "unauthorized" demonstrations resulting in the loss of lives, and also condemned him for claiming win in the presidential race.

He noted that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators behind an insurrectionary plan" will also face legal action.

Election Results

The president, who took control in the early 80s and is now the oldest serving president, won the 12 October election with over half of the votes, compared to a significant minority for Tchiroma Bakary, according to the electoral authority.

Opposition Response

Tchiroma Bakary is has not yet commented to the official announcement to try him, but he had earlier stated that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being taken into custody.

When results were announced, he claimed that gunmen used lethal force on demonstrators assembled near his home in the city of Garoua, causing the death of at least 2 individuals.

Investigation Announced

On Tuesday, the government official disclosed that an probe would be initiated into clashes prior to and following the announcement of the election results.

"During these attacks, some of the individuals involved died," he stated, without offering a specific number of protesters who have been killed in the clashes.

Nji noted that a number of officers of the law enforcement also received major harm.

Present Conditions

While Nji asserted the situation nationwide was now stable, demonstrators continue to protest in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters established obstructions on Tuesday, and ignited tyres on the thoroughfares.

Experts caution that the post-electoral violence could push the country into a political crisis.

Judy Clark
Judy Clark

A philosopher and statistician who writes about the intersection of luck, probability, and human experience, with a background in behavioral science.