Cameroon in Mourning: Opposition Leader Anicet Ekane Dies in Detention

Thu Dec 04 2025 00:44:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The death of Anicet Ekane, a prominent opposition figure in Cameroon, has sparked outrage and mourning among supporters, following his detention under controversial circumstances.

Anicet Ekane, a 74-year-old opposition leader in Cameroon, has died in custody five weeks after his arrest. His party alleges he was denied medical care, while the government claims he succumbed to chronic illnesses. The death has provoked widespread anger and grief among his supporters, leading to protests and security responses in the capital, Douala.

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, officially won by 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya. Tchiroma has since fled to The Gambia.

No official cause of Ekane's death has been announced. His party has accused the authorities of denying him access to his medication - a charge 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 worsened over the weekend.

We have no clarification... His wife had been called to come and when she found herself there, she was just presented the corpse of her husband, he said. He added that the family later took the corpse to the mortuary.

Defence ministry spokesman Capt Cyrille Serge Atonfack stated that Ekane had died from illness but did not provide further details, claiming the politician had been well cared for during his detention.

According to Ekane's lawyers, he was accused of hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection. One lawyer described his detention as illegal, emphasizing he was never charged or presented before a judge.

His death has sent shockwaves across the nation, with supporters gathering at the party headquarters in Douala to grieve and express their outrage. Manidem says its premises have been surrounded by security forces.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of Ekane's death, and the opposition figure's demise has intensified scrutiny over the government's treatment of dissenters.

As expressions of grief and anger continue to spread, this incident marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle between Cameroon's opposition and the ruling administration.