The death of Anicet Ekane, a well-known opposition politician and outspoken critic of President Paul Biya, while in state custody, has sparked great indignation in Cameroon. In Yaoundé, Douala, and beyond, his passing has sparked sorrow and demands for justice.
Maître Ngouana Ulrich Juvénal, the head of Ekane’s legal team, stated that they were informed of his death early in the morning. Around seven in the morning, we received a call and were taken to the medical centre of the national gendarmerie. When we arrived, we saw Ekane’s deceased body among colleagues, including Honourable Nitcheu and Professor Maurice Kamto,” Ngouana said, characterising the incident as tragic.
According to reports, Ekane’s condition had gotten considerably worse in the days before he passed away. He was quite sick and hardly able to speak when he was last seen on Tuesday. The attorney also raised concerns about the quality of medical care given while in jail, saying, “He requested consultation with his pulmonologist and a transfer to a hospital for appropriate care.
The conditions surrounding Ekane’s arrest have been denounced by civil society organisations. Cyrille Rolande Bechon, Coordinator of the NGO New Human Rights, called the situation “a shocking violation of fundamental human rights. Ekane was kept arbitrarily for almost 30 days, in clear defiance of Cameroon’s national and international obligations.
Human rights activists are now calling for immediate investigations into Ekane’s prison circumstances, accountability, and transparency. Following the death of the opposition leader, Cameroon’s treatment of political prisoners has come under increased scrutiny, raising concerns about the nation’s compliance with moral and legal requirements for detention procedures.
While people in Douala, Yaoundé, and other areas grieve for Ekane, civil society is still demanding changes to protect the rule of law and avoid similar tragedies in the future. For campaigners fighting for justice and the defence of political liberties in Cameroon, the case has become a focal point.
