Cameroon’s political landscape has been shaken by the death of prominent left-wing opposition figure Anicet Ekane, who passed away while detained at a military medical facility. The 74-year-old leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) had been held for five weeks without formal charges following his October 24 arrest.
Ekane’s sudden demise has sparked outrage among opposition supporters and raised serious questions about treatment of government critics. According to his legal representatives, the politician was never formally charged or presented before a judicial authority despite accusations of “hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection.”
The circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery. Family members received minimal explanation, with Ekane’s wife being abruptly presented with her husband’s corpse without prior notification of his deteriorating condition. Defense Ministry spokesman Captain Cyrille Serge Atonfack attributed the death to “various chronic pathologies” but provided no specific details about the medical circumstances.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tensions following October’s presidential election, which saw 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya officially declared winner. Ekane had been a key figure in the Union for Change Coalition that backed former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who subsequently fled to The Gambia after disputing the election results.
The opposition leader’s death has triggered widespread grief and anger, with supporters gathering at party headquarters in Douala while others expressed fury through online channels. Security forces have reportedly surrounded MANIDEM’s premises as authorities announce an investigation into the exact circumstances of Ekane’s death.