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Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has announced that opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted over allegations that he instigated "violent election protests".

At least 4 demonstrators have been lost their lives during confrontations between law enforcement and protesters since Cameroon's election on 12 October, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya securing an eighth presidential mandate.

Issa Tchiroma insists that he won the election, a statement rejected by the incumbent party, the ruling CPDM.

Violent crackdowns by security personnel on demonstrators have concerned the global community, with the United Nations, African Union and EU demanding caution.

Official's Claims

On Tuesday, the interior minister accused Tchiroma Bakary of planning what he labeled "unlawful" protests leading to the fatalities, and also condemned him for claiming win in the electoral contest.

He added that Tchiroma Bakary's "co-conspirators involved in an subversive plot" will also face legal action.

Election Results

Paul Biya, who came to power in 1982 and is now the most elderly national leader, secured the 12 October presidential election with a majority of the votes, compared to 35.2% for his opponent, according to the constitutional court.

Opposition Response

The opposition figure is yet to respond to the government's decision to prosecute him, but he had earlier announced that he rejected a fraudulent outcome - and that he was not afraid of being detained.

On election result day, he said that gunmen used lethal force on protesters assembled near his home in the city of Garoua, fatally wounding at least two individuals.

Probe Launched

On Tuesday, the interior minister announced that an probe would be initiated into violent incidents surrounding the declaration of the election results.

"Throughout the violence, some of the individuals involved died," he said, without giving a precise figure of demonstrators who have been lost their lives in the incidents.

Nji added that multiple members of the security forces also received serious injuries.

Ongoing Circumstances

Although the interior minister maintained the condition nationwide was now stable, protesters continue to protest in certain regions of the country, especially in these two cities, where protesters set up barricades on that day, and set fire to tyres on the streets.

Experts caution that the political turmoil could lead the country into a leadership vacuum.