Cameroon opposition activist Anicet Ekane dies in custody; party demands accountability
Cameroon opposition leader Anicet Ekane died in custody in Yaoundé after his October arrest. Government, his party and the EU differ on his treatment and demand investigations into his death.
Cameroon opposition politician Anicet Ekane, 74, died in detention on Monday, weeks after his arrest on insurrection charges on October 24.
Ekane, who led the African Movement for New Independence (MANIDEM) party, was arrested in Douala during a broader crackdown on opposition figures.
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His detention came after he backed Tchiroma Bakary, a challenger to President Paul Biya in the country’s October 12 presidential elections.
Cameroon’s Ministry of Defence confirmed Ekane’s death in a statement on X, saying he passed away at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre in Yaoundé following an illness.
"The government of the republic regrets this death, which occurred while Mr EKANE Anicet was in police custody following his arrest on October 24, 2025, in Douala, and while he was already suffering from various health conditions prior to his detention," the statement, seen by The Eastleigh Voice, reads.
"The government wishes to note that throughout his detention, Mr Ekane Anicet received appropriate care, both from the doctors at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre and from his personal physicians."
Investigations launched
The government also announced that investigations have been launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Ekane’s death.
However, his lawyer, Emmanuel Sihm, claimed that Ekane was denied proper medical treatment while in detention.
In response to the government’s announcement, the MANIDEM party described Ekane’s death as a deliberate killing and urged authorities to expedite investigations.
"UPC-MANIDEM demands that full light be shed, without delay or evasion, on the conditions of detention and the exact circumstances of his death," the party said.
"Responsibilities be clearly established, and that the perpetrators of this flagrant violation of human rights be held accountable for their actions."
The European Union (EU) also reacted to Ekane’s passing, mourning him as a committed activist and prominent figure in Cameroonian politics.
"The European Union Delegation takes note of the communique issued by the Ministry of Defence announcing the opening of an investigation to establish, with precision, the circumstances surrounding the death of Anicet Ekane," the EU said.
"The EU Delegation strongly recalls the need to ensure the safety and physical integrity of all political actors, and calls for justice in order to tackle instances of excessive violence and human rights violations."
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