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The nation's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has stated that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over accusations that he incited "violent election protests".

No fewer than four demonstrators have been lost their lives during confrontations between law enforcement and protesters since the electoral process on 12 October, with President Paul Biya, aged 92 winning an eighth term in office.

The opposition leader asserts that he was the true winner, a claim disputed by the governing party, the ruling CPDM.

Forceful measures by law enforcement on protesters have concerned the international community, with the United Nations, AU and EU urging caution.

Minister's Accusations

Recently, the interior minister alleged Tchiroma Bakary of planning what he referred to as "unauthorized" demonstrations leading to the fatalities, and also criticised him for claiming win in the presidential race.

He further stated that the opposition leader's "accomplices behind an subversive plot" will also be prosecuted.

Poll Figures

The president, who assumed office in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, obtained the 12 October vote with over half of the vote, compared to just over a third for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.

Leader's Stance

Issa Tchiroma is yet to respond to the authorities' move to try him, but he had earlier declared that he refused to acknowledge a fraudulent outcome - and that he was fearless of being arrested.

On election result day, he claimed that security forces shot on protesters assembled near his house in Garoua, causing the death of at least two individuals.

Inquiry Launched

On Tuesday, the interior minister revealed that an probe would be started into violent incidents before and after the declaration of the election results.

"In the course of these incidents, some of the individuals involved lost their lives," he said, without providing a specific number of protesters who have been fatally injured in the incidents.

Nji added that multiple officers of the law enforcement also received major harm.

Current Situation

Although the interior minister asserted the state of affairs nationwide was now under control, demonstrators continue to protest in some parts of the nation, especially in these two cities, where protesters established obstructions on that day, and burnt tires on the roads.

Observers warn that the election-related unrest could push the nation into a leadership vacuum.