Cameroon’s Interior Minister, Paul Atanga Nji, has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will face legal action for allegedly inciting “violent post-election demonstrations,” following deadly clashes that erupted after the disputed 12 October elections.
At least four protesters have been killed as security forces cracked down on opposition supporters protesting President Paul Biya’s controversial re-election for an eighth consecutive term. The 92-year-old Biya, Africa’s longest-serving leader, was declared winner with 53.7% of the vote, while Tchiroma Bakary officially garnered 35.2%, according to the Constitutional Council.
Tchiroma Bakary, however, has rejected the results, claiming victory and accusing the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of “stealing the people’s mandate.” In an earlier interview with the BBC, he vowed not to “accept a stolen vote” and said he was “not afraid of being arrested.”
Interior Minister Nji, in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, accused Bakary of organizing “illegal protests” that led to loss of lives and destruction of property.
“Those who participated in this insurrectionary plan will face the full force of the law,” he warned, adding that several security officers were injured during the unrest.
The post-election violence has alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, African Union, and European Union urging calm and restraint. Reports indicate that armed security personnel opened fire near Bakary’s residence in Garoua on election result day, killing at least two protesters and injuring several others.
Despite government claims that the situation is “under control,” protests continue in Douala, Garoua, and other towns, where demonstrators have mounted roadblocks and burned tyres demanding justice and transparency in the vote count.
Cameroon’s government says it will launch an investigation into the deadly incidents before and after the announcement of results, but critics fear the inquiry will be used to suppress dissent rather than seek accountability.
President Biya, who has ruled since 1982, now faces mounting pressure both at home and abroad over his government’s handling of the crisis. Analysts warn that the ongoing political tensions could push the country deeper into instability if dialogue between the government and opposition fails to begin soon.
