Cameroon's Opposition Leader Anicet Ekane Dies in Detention at 74
Ekane's family says authorities offered little explanation as he died in custody; the government cites illness and orders an investigation.
Cameroon's political landscape was shaken as Anicet Ekane, a veteran opposition figure, died in custody five weeks after his arrest. Family and party officials say he received limited information about his health and treatment while detained.
Death in custody
Ekane, 74, was a leading figure in the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Manidem), part of a broader opposition coalition that backed Issa Tchiroma Bakary in Cameroon's presidential election. The government says the poll was won by President Paul Biya, who is 92, and Bakary later fled to The Gambia.
Manidem says Ekane died Monday morning at a military medical facility as his condition worsened over the weekend. A party official said there was no clarification, and that when Ekane's wife arrived she was shown his body; the family later took the remains to the mortuary.
Military spokesman Capt Cyrille Serge Atonfack said Ekane died from illness and had been treated at the Military Medical Centre of the National Gendarmerie since his arrest on 24 October, noting the politician suffered from chronic health problems but giving few specifics.
Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi expressed condolences and said doctors had provided care, while government investigators assess the circumstances of his death.
Context and reactions
Ekane initially supported Maurice Kamto in the election, but Kamto's candidacy was rejected by election authorities because the party endorsed more than one candidate. Ekane later joined the Union for Change Coalition, which backed Tchiroma Bakary.
Anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna described Ekane's death as the extinguishing of a fierce, hopeful flame for democratic emancipation. He stated that Ekane had told him of worsening health in their last conversation and argued that basic humanity and the right to medical care should have led to his release for treatment.
Rumors of Ekane's death circulated in recent weeks, with supporters gathering at Manidem's Douala headquarters and on social media. Local security forces were reported to surround the party's premises in the wake of the announcement.
Ekane had previously aligned with Maurice Kamto's campaign and later helped form the Union for Change Coalition, backing Tchiroma Bakary as its candidate.
In the broader security context, Cameroon has faced international scrutiny over crackdowns on protests following the president's re-election, with the United Nations reporting dozens of deaths in unrest.
Additional reporting by Natasha Booty.
Expert comment
Expert comment: Akere Muna described Ekane's death as the extinguishing of a fierce and hopeful flame for democratic emancipation. He added that basic humanity and access to medical care should have prompted consideration of release for treatment.
Summary
Ekane, 74, died in detention five weeks after his arrest, drawing attention to medical access and due-process concerns in Cameroon. The government says illness caused the death and has launched an investigation, while opposition voices accuse authorities of neglect. The incident has prompted mourning and calls for greater transparency in detention practices.
Key takeaway: The death of a detained opposition figure highlights the need for transparent medical care and due process in Cameroon. BBC News