Anicet Ekane, a prominent Cameroonian opposition leader, has died while in detention, five weeks following his arrest, according to his legal representatives and his political party, Manidem. At 74 years old, Ekane was a leader in an opposition coalition supporting Issa Tchiroma Bakary in the recent presidential election. Tchiroma Bakary claims he was the rightful winner of the election, which was officially awarded to the 92-year-old incumbent, Paul Biya. Following the election, Tchiroma Bakary fled to The Gambia.
The official cause of Ekane’s death has not been disclosed. His party accuses the authorities of failing to provide him with necessary medication, a claim that the government denies. Reports indicate that Ekane died in a military medical facility after his health deteriorated over the weekend. A spokesperson for the Manidem party stated that Ekane’s wife was called to the facility and was only presented with her husband’s corpse.
The Cameroonian defense ministry reported that Ekane died due to existing chronic health issues and claimed that he had received adequate medical care since his arrest on October 24. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is reportedly underway.
Ekane faced accusations of hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection; however, one of his lawyers emphasized that he was never formally charged or presented in court, labeling the detention as illegal. In the weeks leading to his death, there had been widespread speculation about his condition among campaign supporters.
Following his death, there have been gatherings of supporters at the Manidem headquarters in Douala to mourn, with increased military presence reported around the party’s premises. This incident has added to ongoing tensions surrounding the recent election, which has seen violence, including the deaths of at least 48 individuals during protests against President Biya’s re-election. The Cameroonian government has denied involvement in these incidents.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg9204y4w5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss