Cameroonian Opposition Figure Faces Legal Action Regarding Post-Election Violence, Authorities Announces

Cameroon's Minister of the Interior the interior minister has stated that political opponent Issa Tchiroma Bakary will undergo legal proceedings over claims that he provoked "aggressive electoral rallies".

A minimum of four protesters have been killed during confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators since the electoral process on October 12, with the 92-year-old head of state winning an eighth presidential mandate.

Issa Tchiroma asserts that he won the election, a claim dismissed by the incumbent party, the ruling CPDM.

Forceful measures by law enforcement on protesters have concerned the world leaders, with the United Nations, AU and European Union demanding caution.

Official's Claims

Earlier this week, Nji alleged the opposition figure of coordinating what he referred to as "unauthorized" demonstrations leading to the loss of lives, and also rebuked him for announcing success in the electoral contest.

He added that Tchiroma Bakary's "associates involved in an subversive plot" will also undergo judicial processes.

Vote Outcome

Paul Biya, who took control in the early 80s and is now the most elderly national leader, won the 12 October presidential election with over half of the vote, compared to 35.2% for Tchiroma Bakary, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.

Opposition Response

Tchiroma Bakary is yet to respond to the authorities' move to try him, but he had earlier announced that he refused to acknowledge a rigged election - and that he was undaunted of being taken into custody.

Following the vote count, he claimed that security forces used lethal force on protesters assembled near his residence in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least 2 people.

Inquiry Announced

On Tuesday, the government official revealed that an inquiry would be initiated into violent incidents before and after the announcement of the election results.

"Throughout the violence, some of the individuals involved lost their lives," he commented, without providing a exact count of demonstrators who have been fatally injured in the incidents.

Nji noted that a number of officers of the security forces also suffered significant wounds.

Present Conditions

Even though Nji insisted the state of affairs across the country was now stable, demonstrators remain active in certain regions of the nation, especially in these two cities, where protesters set up roadblocks on Tuesday, and set fire to tires on the roads.

Analysts caution that the election-related unrest could lead the country into a leadership vacuum.