Cameroon’s top opposition leader, Anicet Ekane, has died after some weeks of detention, his lawyers and family said on Monday, alleging that he had struggled to breathe but didn’t receive proper care.
Aged 74, Ekane was arrested in late October alongside other top figures of his African Movement for New Independence and Democracy party as protests rattled the country over allegations of fraud in the presidential election.
He was detained on charges of insurrection, his lawyer Emmanuel Simh told The Associated Press.
“Mr. Ekane was critically sick; he was denied appropriate treatment,” Simh said. “We’re still in shock and sadness. Ekane committed no crime, so we need to know why he was arrested and abandoned in the prison cell of the paramilitary gendarmerie.”
Election Dispute and Growing Tensions
Ekane was among opposition figures objecting to the result of the October 12 election in which Paul Biya, the world’s oldest president at 92, was declared the winner of another term.
Rival candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed to have won and has called on Cameroonians to reject the official result.
Cameroon’s defense ministry confirmed Ekane’s death on Monday, saying he died “following an illness.” It said an investigation has been opened into the circumstances.
“The deceased, who suffered from various chronic illnesses, had been hospitalized at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Center,” the ministry said.
READ ALSO: Cameroonian Opposition Leader Bakary Takes Refuge in The Gambia
“He was receiving appropriate care from the Military Medical Corps, in conjunction with his personal physicians, and benefiting from additional follow-up care in local hospitals.”
Ekane’s party described his death as “murder” in a social media post.
Muna Ekane, Ekane’s eldest son, told the AP his father’s health had worsened on Sunday.
“For one week, he had difficulties breathing; he was suffocating,” the son said. “He was diagnosed while in detention, but no proper treatment was followed. He had difficulties eating.
We spent the whole week alerting public authorities about his worsening health situation, but nothing was done.”
He did not say what his father was diagnosed with, describing it as “respiratory problems.”
He added that he believed his father had been arrested for supporting Tchiroma, who fled to Gambia last month.
READ ALSO: Cameroon’s Biya Declared Winner For the 8th Time in 43years, Remains World’s Oldest President
Following the announcement of the election results, deadly protests erupted in key opposition strongholds. While Cameroon’s government said 16 people were killed, opposition figures and human rights groups estimated the death toll at more than 55.
Tchiroma Flees to Gambia as Biya Claims Eighth Term
Cameroonian opposition politician Issa Tchiroma Bakary has taken refuge in The Gambia after fleeing his country over safety concerns following the disputed 12 October presidential election.
The Gambian government confirmed that Tchiroma Bakary, who insists he won the election, arrived in the country on 7 November and was allowed entry on humanitarian grounds.
Tchiroma Bakary has accused President Paul Biya’s administration of manipulating the poll to secure the 92-year-old leader an eighth term in office.
Cameroon’s Biya was declared winner for the eighth time in 43 years, remaining the world’s oldest president.
Official results declared Biya the winner with 53.7% of the vote, while Tchiroma Bakary came second with 35.2%.
He maintains that the election was rigged and has vowed to continue resisting the government until his “victory” is acknowledged.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
