Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has stated that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal consequences over allegations of inciting violent post-election demonstrations.
Four protesters have reportedly been killed in clashes between opposition supporters and security forces since the October 12 election, in which 92-year-old President Paul Biya secured his eighth consecutive term.
Tchiroma Bakary claims he won the election, a statement dismissed by Biya's ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM). The international community has expressed alarm over violent crackdowns on protesters. Organizations including the UN, African Union, and EU have called for restraint.
Nji accused Tchiroma Bakary of organizing illegal protests and criticized him for prematurely declaring victory. He warned that others involved in what he termed an insurrectionary plan would also face legal challenges.
Biya won the election with 53.7% of the vote against Tchiroma Bakary's 35.2%, according to Cameroon's Constitutional Council.
Tchiroma Bakary has yet to respond to the government's legal actions, though he has previously expressed his determination to reject what he calls a stolen vote and stated he is not afraid of arrest. Following the election results announcement, he reported that armed individuals opened fire on protesters near his home, resulting in fatalities.
Interior Minister Nji announced an investigation into the violent incidents that occurred before and after the election results were declared, noting that several security forces were also injured during the clashes. Although he insisted that the situation is under control, protests persist in various regions, particularly in Douala and Garoua, where demonstrators have erected roadblocks and burned tires.
Analysts warn that the ongoing violence may lead the country into a severe political crisis.
