🔗 Share this article

Cameroon's Interior Minister the interior minister has stated that political opponent Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action over accusations that he provoked "violent electoral rallies".

A minimum of 4 protesters have been killed during confrontations between law enforcement and protesters since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with the 92-year-old head of state securing an eighth presidential mandate.

Tchiroma Bakary maintains that he won the election, a claim dismissed by the incumbent party, the CPDM.

Forceful measures by security personnel on protesters have alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, African Union and European Union calling for restraint.

Official's Allegations

Earlier this week, the interior minister charged Tchiroma Bakary of organising what he described as "illegal" protests causing the fatalities, and also criticised him for claiming win in the presidential race.

He added that the opposition leader's "accomplices involved in an subversive plot" will also face legal action.

Vote Outcome

The president, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, won the 12 October vote with 53.7% of the vote, compared to just over a third for his opponent, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.

Challenger's Position

The opposition figure is yet to respond to the official announcement to bring him to court, but he had before announced that he would not accept a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being arrested.

Following the vote count, he reported that armed men used lethal force on demonstrators present near his residence in the city of Garoua, causing the death of at least two people.

Probe Revealed

Earlier this week, the government official disclosed that an probe would be started into clashes surrounding the publication of the vote outcome.

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

Nji noted that a number of personnel of the law enforcement also sustained major harm.

Current Situation

Although Nji asserted the situation across the country was now under control, protesters continue to protest in various areas of the nation, especially in Douala and Garoua, where protesters established barricades on that day, and burnt tires on the thoroughfares.

Experts alert that the election-related unrest could push the nation into a political crisis.