Cameroon's Interior Minister, Paul Atanga Nji, has said opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary will be prosecuted for unilaterally declaring victory in the elections and organizing "illegal" protests that resulted in the loss of life.

He spoke today at a press conference in the capital Yaoundé, where he also discussed the scale and impact of recent street protests.

He said drug-impaired protesters responded to Bakary's "calls for rebellion" and wreaked havoc in several cities across the country.

He then cited some of the sites affected by the unrest, including public buildings, petrol stations and shops.

"Issa Tchiroma will have to answer for his actions before the competent court," said Mr. Nji.

Mr. Bakary has not yet responded to the government's decision to prosecute him.

But in a statement on his Facebook page seen by the BBC, he continued to claim victory and called on the "international community to assume its responsibilities."

In an interview with the BBC a few days before the election results were announced, he said he was not afraid of being arrested.

The Interior Minister revealed that an investigation had been opened to shed light on the incidents that occurred before and after the proclamation of the victory of outgoing President Paul Biya, with 53.7% of the vote.

"During these attacks, some criminals lost their lives," he said, without specifying the exact number of protesters killed during the clashes.

Mr. Nji added that several members of the security forces were also seriously injured.

According to a regional governor, at least four protesters were killed in the economic capital Douala on Sunday, while Mr. Bakary revealed that snipers shot dead two people outside his home on Monday.

Although Mr. Nji insisted that the situation was now under control across the country, protesters remained active in some areas, including Douala and Garoua, where they set up roadblocks on Tuesday and burned tires in the streets.

Violence of the demonstrations

Several people have been killed in Cameroon and dozens arrested in clashes between protesters challenging Paul Biya's victory and security forces.

International organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the European Union are calling on the Cameroonian government to "end the excessive use of violence against protesters."

These demonstrations, severely repressed by the security forces, broke out in several localities of the country following the proclamation of the results of the presidential election which saw the victory of the outgoing president Paul Biya, 92 years old, 43 years in power.

"The European Union is deeply concerned by the violent repression of the demonstrations of 26 and 27 October 2025 and deplores the shooting deaths of several civilians," the organisation wrote on its website.

The European Union calls on the Cameroonian authorities "to be accountable, transparent and fair in addressing cases of excessive use of violence and human rights violations" and calls for "the release of all those arbitrarily detained since the presidential election."

Urging all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from any action likely to exacerbate tensions, the EU 'encourages all political and social actors to swiftly engage in constructive dialogue in order to preserve stability and national cohesion and to defend democratic values and human rights'.

For its part, Human Rights Watch calls on the Cameroonian government to put an end to "the excessive use of force."

“Cameroonian authorities should immediately instruct their security forces not to use violence against protesters,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

HRW calls on Cameroonian authorities to investigate allegations of excessive and lethal use of force.

"They should promptly and impartially investigate allegations of excessive and lethal use of force and bring those responsible to justice for any killings committed during this sensitive period," Ms. Allegrozzi said.

"The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials provide that police must use the minimum amount of force necessary at all times," writes HRW.

"Firearms may only be used to disperse violent assemblies when other, less dangerous means are not possible. Law enforcement may only intentionally resort to the lethal use of firearms when absolutely necessary to protect lives," the human rights organization emphasizes.

For its part, Amnesty International called on the authorities to respect, protect and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly.

The organization also calls for the opening of a "rapid, independent and impartial investigation" to shed light on the violence which has already resulted in several deaths and dozens of arrests.