Cameroon Mourns the Loss of Opposition Leader Anicet Ekane in Detention

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:10:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The death of 74-year-old Anicet Ekane, a prominent opposition figure in Cameroon, raises concerns over the treatment of political detainees in the country amidst allegations of neglect and political oppression.

Anicet Ekane, a well-known opposition leader in Cameroon, has died in military detention just weeks after his arrest. His party accuses the authorities of denying him necessary medical care. The circumstances surrounding his death have ignited outrage among supporters and calls for accountability from the government.

Left-wing Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane has died in detention, five weeks after he was arrested, his lawyers and party have announced.

Ekane, 74, was among the leaders of an opposition coalition who endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary in October's presidential election. Tchiroma Bakary claims he was the rightful winner of the poll, which was officially won by the 92-year-old incumbent, Paul Biya. Tchiroma Bakary has since fled to The Gambia.

No official cause of Ekane's death has been announced. However, his party is accusing authorities of preventing him from receiving necessary medication—a claim the government has denied.

According to a spokesman for Ekane's African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Manidem) party, Ekane died on Monday morning at a military medical facility after his health condition deteriorated over the weekend.

We have no clarification... His wife was just presented with the corpse of her husband, he said, adding that the family took the body to the mortuary later.

The defence ministry spokesman, Captain Cyrille Serge Atonfack, stated that Ekane suffered from various chronic illnesses and emphasized that he had received adequate medical attention since his arrest on 24 October.

Ekane was charged with hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection. However, his lawyer noted that he was never presented before a judge or formally charged, labeling the detention as illegal.

The news of his death has sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting gatherings of supporters at the party headquarters in Douala to mourn. Many have expressed their anger online, while Manidem claims their premises have been surrounded by security forces.

Authorities stated an investigation is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding Ekane's death. This incident underlines ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of political dissidents in Cameroon.