74-year-old opposition Leader Anicet Ekane Dies in state custody on December 1st 2025, weeks after his arrest during the post-election crackdown. His death at the military medical center has raised accusations of medical negligence and “programmed killing”
Ekane, who was the President of the African Movement For New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), was arrested in Douala on October 24, 2025. Reports show that, he was detained on charges of hostility against the state, incitement to revolt and calls for insurrection after he publicly supported Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s claim to have won the October 12 presidential election.
The Cameroon defense Ministry stated that Ekane Dies “following an illness” at the National Gendarmerie Military medical center in Yaounde and announced an investigation into the circumstances. They claimed he was receiving care from military and personal doctors .
These official statements are strongly contested by Ekane’s family, lawyer and political party. They allege he was denied appropriate treatment for severe respiratory problems and that essential medical equipment including an oxygen concentrator, was withheld.
MANIDEM stated that, Ekane’s oxygen concentrator and other devices remained locked in his impounded vehicle at a military police station, with the station commander repeatedly blocking his lawyer’s efforts to retrieve them. His Son reported that the deceased had been struggling to breathe and eat for a week before his death and that repeated alerts about his condition went on deaf ears
A renowned human rights lawyer, Barrister Alice Nkom issued a statement calling Ekane’s passing “an immense tragedy” and “a criminal national disgrace”. She directly blamed the state, asking , ” What dignified country deprives a sick man of the oxygen keeping him alive?” and asserted, ” they did not just steal his freedom. They stole his breath”
Also the Deputy National Secretary of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), warned that Ekane’s death was part of a systematic repression. ” This is about the systematic crushing of political space in our country, one party at a time, one leader at a time , one voice at a time”, he stated, calling for unified condemnation.
Ekane was a member of the Union of the People’s of Cameroon (UPC) before founding the nationalist and left-wing MANIDEM party in 1995. He ran for the nation’s office twice representing MANIDEM in the 2004 and 2011 presidential elections. In the recent election, he aligned with the self Proclaimed president Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
However, the Government’s response to the post election crisis has been severe. While officials acknowledged 16 deaths, the UN and other sources estimated the death toll at over 48. For his own safety, Tchiroma Bakary fled to The Gambia in November, where he was granted asylum on humanitarian grounds. From exile, he had issues. 48-hour ultimatum for the release of post-election detainees like Ekane, an ultimatum that was not met.
