YAOUNDE, Cameroon — YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — No less than 20 folks have been arrested in Cameroon in reference to protests over the Oct. 12 presidential election, authorities mentioned on Tuesday, as tensions mounted forward of the proclamation of outcomes anticipated later this week.

Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, confirmed the arrest of a few of the protesters within the northern metropolis of Garoua in a press release on Tuesday, with out stating when and what number of had been arrested. Twenty of the “a number of” arrested shall be introduced earlier than army courts to reply for the costs of riot and incitement to rebel, the assertion mentioned, whereas others concerned in prison acts have been taken to Yaounde for additional investigations.

“The federal government watches with concern acts of provocation and dysfunction carried out by some hassle makers,” he mentioned, claiming that these arrested had been being manipulated by some political actors.

Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed victory final week and urged President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest president at 92, to concede. Biya’s occasion has rejected Tchiroma’s declare of victory and accused the opposition candidate of making an attempt to disrupt the electoral course of. The constitutional council is anticipated to announce the ultimate official outcomes by Oct. 26.

Analysts have predicted a victory for Biya because the opposition remained divided and his strongest rival was barred from working in August. Eleven opposition candidates had been on the poll.

Following the election, pockets of protests broke out in a number of cities over the allegations of election fraud.

Tchiroma alleged final week that there have been indicators of vote tampering, echoing civil society teams’ earlier reviews of “a number of irregularities,” together with tried poll stuffing.

The Nationwide Episcopal Convention of Cameroon, which monitored the election, mentioned on Monday that the election was marked by various irregularities, together with relocation of sure polling stations and failure to replace the electoral register, which nonetheless contained the names of deceased individuals. A bunch of eight civil society organizations that monitored the election additionally famous the unequal distribution of poll papers in some polling stations and makes an attempt at poll field stuffing of their report.

On Sunday, Tchiroma began publishing on his Fb web page outcomes from 18 administrative models which he claims represent 80% of the voters, allegedly confirming his victory. His Fb posts have obtained reward from his supporters and mockery from critics and regime allies — together with ministers — who query their authenticity.

Tchiroma, who’s in his late 70s, was a authorities spokesperson and employment minister underneath Biya however stop the federal government earlier this yr to launch his presidential run. His marketing campaign drew giant crowds and backing from a coalition of opposition events and civic teams.

Biya has been in energy since 1982, almost half his lifetime, making him Cameroon’s second president since independence from France in 1960.

Throughout Biya’s a long time in energy, the Central African nation of almost 30 million folks has struggled with challenges from a lethal secessionist motion within the west and persistent corruption that has stifled growth regardless of wealthy pure assets like oil and minerals. ___

Observe AP’s Africa protection at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa