Cameroon's political landscape has been plunged into mourning and renewed tension following the death of a prominent opposition leader while in military custody. Anicet Ekane, the 74-year-old head of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Manidem), passed away on Monday after weeks of detention, as confirmed by his family and legal team.
Arrest and Allegations of Medical Neglect
According to his party, Ekane was arrested on 24 October in the economic hub of Douala. The arrest followed demonstrations that erupted to contest the official results of the presidential election held on 12 October. Manidem described the arrest as a "kidnapping" carried out by Cameroonian soldiers.
He was subsequently transferred and held at a military garrison in the capital, Yaoundé. The state charged him with hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection, all of which he denied.
His lawyers and family have strongly alleged that he was denied proper medical care during his detention. His attorney, Ngouana Ulrich Juvenal, revealed that during a visit just days before his death, Ekane was barely able to speak. His sister, Mariane Simon-Ekane, publicly confirmed his passing in a Facebook post.
A Desperate Plea for Care Ignored
Alarmed by his deteriorating health, his party, Manidem, issued a desperate statement on Sunday, calling for his urgent transfer to a hospital that could provide "more suitable and appropriate" treatment. This plea went unheeded.
In an earlier statement dated 21 November, the party disclosed a shocking detail: Ekane's essential medical devices, including his oxygen concentrator, were locked inside his impounded vehicle at a military police station in Douala. Manidem accused the station commander of repeatedly blocking lawyers' efforts to retrieve the equipment.
The party condemned this obstruction as a "flagrant human rights violation" and asserted it amounted to a "programmed killing." They claimed his struggle to breathe was not adequately addressed by the detention facility.
Death Amidst Post-Election Turmoil
Ekane's death occurs against a backdrop of significant political unrest in Cameroon. He was among the opposition figures who vehemently rejected the outcome of the October election, which declared 92-year-old Paul Biya, the world's oldest president, the winner of another seven-year term.
Rival candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary also claimed victory and urged citizens to reject the official results. The post-election period has been marked by violence; security forces reportedly killed 48 civilians while responding to protests against Biya's re-election.
Analysts fear that the death of such a notable opposition figure in state custody could further inflame tensions in the Central African nation, testing an already fragile political climate.
