Anicet Ekane: Cameroon opposition firebrand dies in detention aged 74

A 74-year-old Cameroonian opposition leader, Anicet Ekane, died in detention on Monday morning. He was one of the leaders of a coalition that supported Issa Tchiroma Bakary's candidacy in Cameroon's presidential election held last month.

The government had denied him access to his medication, which his lawyers claimed led to his worsening health condition. According to his lawyers, Ekane was never presented before a judge or charged with any misdemeanor despite being detained for five weeks.

Ekane was among the leaders of an opposition coalition who endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary in October's presidential election. However, Kamto, another prominent opposition figure, had been initially endorsed by the same coalition but his candidacy was rejected on the grounds that the party had endorsed more than one candidate.

The Cameroonian government has denied any wrongdoing and instead claims that Ekane received proper medical attention during his detention. An investigation into the exact circumstances of his death is currently underway.

Ekane's death comes after at least 48 people were killed by Cameroon's security forces during protests against President Paul Biya's re-election in October. The opposition figure had been vocal about condemning these human rights abuses and urging for democratic reforms in the country.

Renowned anti-corruption lawyer, Akere Muna, described Ekane as a fierce and passionate flame who burned for democratic emancipation, stating that he was never presented before a judge or charged with any misdemeanor despite being detained for five weeks.

this is just great... another opposition figure dies in detention and the gov's response is to claim they treated him well . like how convenient it always is when someone gets killed under suspicious circumstances, right? anicet ekane wasnt even charged with anything but still ended up dead... what's the real motive here? i need to see some evidence of this "proper medical attention" they're talking about... sources anyone?

This is so sad Ekane's case is another example of how unfair the system can be in Cameroon . His family should get some answers about what really happened to him . The government denying access to his meds and saying he got proper care during detention just doesn't add up . It's like they're covering something up . Ekane was a brave man who spoke out against human rights abuses , it's not right that he paid the ultimate price . Something needs to be done about this investigation and held accountable for what really went down

Man... this is just another example of how fragile life can be . I mean, the guy's been vocal about condemning human rights abuses and now he's gone? It's like, you're speaking out against injustice and then you get silenced in a very permanent way .

It's crazy that his lawyers are claiming he was never presented before a judge or charged with anything despite being detained for five weeks... it just highlights the lack of accountability in this system. And now we have to wonder if his death is even an accident . I hope they get to the bottom of this and hold someone responsible, but it's hard not to feel a sense of despair when you see something like this happen .

At least we can take comfort in the fact that he was fighting for what he believed in, though... his legacy lives on through people like Akere Muna who are carrying on his work . But still, it's just too soon and it hurts to think about .

"Power tends to concentrate in the hands of a few, and often the means by which it is exerted are collected." Ekane's story just broke my heart, five weeks without seeing a court or being charged... it's infuriating that his health issues were ignored. His courage for democracy and human rights will never be forgotten

I don’t usually comment but I feel so sad about Anicet Ekane's passing . Five weeks without seeing a judge or facing any charges just doesn't seem right to me. The government needs to explain what really happened while he was in detention, especially since his lawyers said he wasn't receiving the proper medication for his condition... it's like they were putting his health on hold . I hope the investigation into his death is thorough and gets to the bottom of things. It's just another example of how tough life is for those who speak out against the government in Cameroon .

This is super suspicious . I mean, the government is saying Ekane got proper medical attention while in detention, but his lawyers are saying no way, they were denied meds and it led to his death. It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole with their word choice . And what's up with this investigation? Sounds like a total whitewash to me. The fact that Ekane was vocal about human rights abuses and urging for reforms doesn't sit well with the government, does it? It smells like they're trying to silence someone who threatened their power . I'm not buying it.

I'm not surprised to hear about this... it's just another example of the Cameroonian government doing whatever they want without accountability . I mean, why bother investigating when you know you'll get a clean slate? It's always the opposition that suffers, and Ekane was just another pawn in their game of oppression . His lawyers were right to say he wasn't presented before a judge or charged with anything - it's clear they didn't want him making waves . And now we've got Akere Muna talking about his "fierce passion" for democracy... yeah right, like that means anything when the system is rigged against you . It's just another case of "he died in detention" and everyone moves on .

OMG this is so sad Anicet Ekane was such an amazing guy I mean I know the government has been denying some bad things but now it looks like they were hiding something my heart goes out to his fam especially since his lawyers said he never got a fair trial or any kinda charge against him and that's just not right as for the investigation, I hope they get to the bottom of this and make sure justice is served

[Image of a person burning with a passionate fire ]

[Caption: When you're fighting for democracy but the system keeps suppressing your flames ]

[A screenshot of Akere Muna's words "fierce and passionate flame" with a red X marked through it, symbolizing the opposition figure being silenced ]

[Image of a person with a "Not Guilty" verdict on their lapel, surrounded by Cameroonian flags ]

man this is just heartbreaking ... I mean, can you believe the conditions they had him in? 5 weeks in detention without even a trial? and no access to his meds, how's that fair? it's like they were trying to punish someone for speaking out against the system.

and the fact that they're trying to cover it up by saying he got proper medical attention is just ridiculous . I mean, we all know what happens when you're denied basic human rights in a country like Cameroon.

it's so sad to see someone like Ekane, who was fighting for democracy and justice, taken away from us too soon . his death is a reminder of the struggles that many activists face in countries with authoritarian regimes.

I just wish we could've done more to help him . Akere Muna's words about Ekane being a "fierce and passionate flame" really hit home... he was a true champion for what's right

awww thats so sad anicet ekane sounded like such an amazing person who was all about fighting for democracy & human rights his death is just devastating, especially since he didn't get the medical care he needed while in detention i hope the investigation into his death goes well and brings justice to his family

just another example of how cameroon's opposition is basically just a footnote in the country's history... i mean, when does it end? someone dies and suddenly everyone's like "oh no, human rights abuses"? let's be real, these things have been going on for years and people are still getting detained without trial. akere munas comments about ekane were super sweet though

Just heard about the sad passing of Anicet Ekane... so unfair that a 74-yr-old man who's been vocal about human rights & democracy in Cameroon ended up dying in detention due to alleged denied access to medication . 5 weeks without a trial or charge is already suspicious, and it's heartbreaking he didn't get the medical care he needed . The fact that there was a dispute over his leadership role within an opposition coalition doesn't justify this . Cameroon needs more democratic reforms & protection for activists like Ekane .

just heard about Anicet Ekane's passing and my heart goes out to the Cameroonian people. Five weeks of detention without seeing a judge or facing any charges? That's just ridiculous . And now they're trying to pass it off as him getting "proper medical attention"? Give me a break . It's like they expect us to believe that's how it all went down.

And what really gets my blood boiling is that Ekane was vocal about speaking out against human rights abuses... his own death being attributed to the same system he was fighting against? That's just messed up . I hope the investigation that's underway actually uncovers some real truth and not just a cover-up. Fingers crossed

another one bites the dust... sad to see Anicet Ekane go . 5 weeks in detention & still no charges? sounds like a fishy situation to me . his lawyers say he was never presented before a judge, can't we have some transparency here? . and now this happens? it's just heartbreaking . the government claims all is well but I think they're hiding something . hope Akere Muna gets to the bottom of this & makes sure justice is served .

This is just getting weird . First, some opposition leader gets arrested, then the government denies him access to meds, and now he's dead under mysterious circumstances... not buying it . It's like they're trying to spin this or something. I mean, even if the gov says he got proper medical care, you can't just take a 74-year-old man at his word, especially when he's being held in detention for 5 weeks. Something fishy is going on here... gotta keep an eye on this one

This is just so sad... Anicet Ekane's passing is like the last nail in the coffin of democracy in Cameroon. The gov't's denial about his detention and medical conditions is just unbelievable . Five whole weeks without a hearing or any charges brought against him, it's outrageous! The timing of his death also raises so many questions... was it really an accident or was there foul play involved?

The government's response to this tragedy should be a full investigation into what happened and real accountability for the actions of those responsible. We can't just turn a blind eye to human rights abuses like this and expect everything to go back to normal . The opposition figures who spoke out against President Biya's re-election should be commended, not silenced... it's time for Cameroon to take a step towards true democracy

this is so disturbing Anicet Ekane's story is like something out of a horror movie being denied medical attention while in detention and still they claim he received proper care I mean what does that even look like? His lawyers were saying he was never brought to court or charged with anything, can you imagine the mental toll on him just sitting there for 5 weeks waiting for something that never happened

this is really sad news... 74 yrs old man in detention, no access to meds and still died cameroon govnt should do an independant investigashun about this. not sure whats going on but human rights abuses r a big issue in that country atm. ekane wasnt just any ordinary guy, he was vocal about the struggles of the ppl & was trying to bring change thru democracy... cant help but feel for his fam & all the others who lost loved ones during those protests