Cameroonian opposition leader Anicet Ekane, aged 74, died in custody on Monday, December 1st, after being held since 24 October on charges of insurrection, his lawyer Emmanuel Simh confirmed.
E. Simh alleged that Ekane, who had been detained at Gendarmerie premises, was critically ill but deprived of proper medical treatment. The Defence Ministry rejected the accusations, stating that Ekane suffered from chronic conditions and had received care from the Military Medical Corps in coordination with his personal physicians.
According to the ministry, he had also been hospitalised at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
Ekane, leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), was arrested in Douala amid post-election protests triggered by allegations of fraud in the 12 October presidential poll. His arrest followed his endorsement of opposition contender Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who claimed victory in an election officially won by President Paul Biya, now 92. Tchiroma has since fled to The Gambia, citing security concerns as political tensions continue to reverberate across the country.