Anicet Ekane: Crack down on opposition goes wrong!.

News of Anicet Ekane’s death in custody, took the social media by storm yesterday, with many putting responsibility for his death at the door-steps of the State.

The leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, MANIDEM party, who was arrested on October 24, 2025, in Douala and later transferred to Yaounde in the wake of the October 12 post-election violence, had been in bad shape. He is said to have been arrested while on his sick bed! 

Prior to his demise late Sunday, rumour had previously circulated, claiming he had died. But the now late Ekane had quickly dismissed the rumour.

A strong ally of Issa Tchiroma Bakary who self-declared himself winner of the October 12 election, Anicet Ekane, was following his arrest, accused of grave offences against the State, including inciting revolt and calling for insurrection.

The Guardian Post is yet to authenticate reports that Anicet Ekane was detained under inhumane conditions and was denied access to proper medical care.

His lawyers, including Barristers Hippolyte Meli and Emmanuel Simh, had weeks ago raised concerns over Anicet Ekane’s failing health condition but authorities seemingly looked away.

Barrister Meli had in a statement released in late October said: “He is unwell but insisted on being heard in the presence of his lawyers, following what he calls his ‘abduction’ in Douala…and his subsequent transfer to Yaounde”.

Defence ministry reacts…

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense, yesterday, publicly commented on the demise of Anicet Ekane, stating the 74-year-old passed away at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre in Yaounde, following an illness.

Going by the statement, released by Army Spokesperson, Navy Captain Cyrille Atonfack Guemo, Ekane had been placed in custody following his arrest on October 24, 2025, in Douala “as part of an investigation opened for various serious offenses under the jurisdiction of the Military Court”.

The Defence Ministry said: “The deceased, who suffered from various chronic illnesses, had since been hospitalised at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre. 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”.

“In accordance with established procedure, an investigation has been opened to precisely determine the circumstances of his death. The Ministry of Defense extends its condolences to the family of the deceased affected by this sad loss” the statement added.

Enter Rene Sadi…

In a telephone interview with renowned United States-based Cameroonian journalist, Angie Forbin, Communication Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi, who insisted he was speaking in his personal capacity, and not as Government’s Spokesman, said he regretted the demise of Anicet Ekane, describing the deceased as “a friend”.

Minister Sadi said he was saddened by the death of the MANIDEM leader noting that: “I am sad.  Ekane was my friend”.

Quizzed if arresting Ekane was the right thing to have been done, Rene Sadi was unequivocal that the decision to arrest Ekani was taken without consulting those with contrary views. 

“There are some decisions which are taken by people who think that it is...for the interest of the country. Sometimes, they do not consult those who can have a different position...I think we should regret what happened. If I was there, I would not have allowed that. It's my own point of view,” he said.

Enter gov’t’s position

As we headed to press last night, Rene Sadi, in his capacity as Minister of Communication and Government’s Spokesman, issued a statement, expressing government’s regret over Ekane’s death.

He said, throughout his detention period, the late politician, who he said was suffering from various chronic illnesses, was given proper medical care by government medics, in the presence of his personal physicians.

He disclosed that the Head of State has given orders for an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death of Ekane. 

Lawyers narrate Ekane’s ordeal in detention

A leaked letter circulating on social media, has now detailed Anicet Ekane’s arrest and ordeal, while in detention.

In the letter, dated November 15, 2025, and addressed to the Gendarmerie Legion Commander of the Littoral Region, the lawyers of Anicet Ekane wrote: “We are representing … Anicet Ekane, who is ill and oxygen-dependent, currently detained in Yaounde, at the Central Judicial Investigation Service and hospitalised at the National Gendarmerie Medical Center”.

The lawyers regretted that during his arrest, Ekane was robbed of several belongings, including cash and a vehicle containing his medical equipment.

The lead lawyer for the now deceased politician, Barrister Hipolyte Meli, who signed the statement, continued that: “On Wednesday, November 13, 2025, having traveled to Douala for this purpose, we were unable to meet with you regarding the matter outlined in the margin, despite our repeated requests and your presence at your office. Your secretary instructed us to return later without providing any further details”.

They stated that: “The medical equipment that is the subject of this complaint, necessary to keep our client alive, is indeed on the back seat of his confiscated vehicle and is being kept in the courtyard of your premises, as we ourselves observed”.

The lawyers had prayed that appropriate measures be taken to release the equipment and delivered to his physicians for the necessary verification.

The said medical equipment, we have been reliably told, were later handed to the detainee. 

Tributes galore…

Meanwhile, following the demise of Anicet Ekane late Sunday, tributes have been pouring in honour of the late veteran politician.

Several of his colleague politicians and rights activists have been taking turns on social media to pay the opposition figure their last respects.

Commenting on the demise of Anicet Ekane, former presidential candidate and international human rights lawyer, Barrister Akere Muna, said the death of the politician is not merely the loss of a man but the extinguishing of a fierce and passionate flame that burned for multi-party politics and for the democratic and political emancipation of the country. Akere said Ekane’s commitment was boundless.

The anti-graft campaigner, recalled that: “…my first encounter with the late Anicet Ekane, was in the early 1990s, within the stark walls of the Military Court in Yaounde. He stood alongside Djeukam Tchameni, Batonnier Yondo Black, and seven others, all awaiting trial under the ominous accusation of ‘subversion’. Anicet bore the extra, chilling charge of ‘insulting the President’. We were all younger then, filled with a tense hope that the law and reason would prevail”.

Taking the cue, the former presidential candidate of FDC party, Hiram Samuel Iyodi, took to his Facebook handle to eulogise Ekane, describing his demise as a great loss to the nation.

Iyodi, who was Biya’s youngest challenger at the October 12 presidential election, said it was with deep sadness that he learned of the demise of Ekane, whom he described as a major figure in the struggle for democracy and the rule of law in Cameroon.

Regretting his departure, Iyodi stated that: “No one should lose their life defending their opinion. The responsibility of this hasty departure is entirely the responsibility of those currently leading our country”.

Similarly, Cameroon’s foremost human rights lawyer, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla, who campaigned for Tchiroma during the October 12 election, said the death of Ekane in detention was a tragic reminder of the human cost of prolonged incarceration”.

Agbor Balla noted that: “At moments like this, we must reflect deeply on the importance of preserving life, dignity, and justice for all”.

The lawyer continued that: “In the spirit of compassion and national reconciliation, I respectfully join many Cameroonians in calling for a humanitarian review of all cases of individuals detained for political or conscience-related reasons. The release of such persons would help heal wounds, restore trust, and promote peace in our nation”.

Earlier, prominent lawyer and Spokesperson of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Barrister Alice Nkom, said: “I have just learned, with deep emotion, on this day of struggle against an authoritarian and totalitarian regime, marked by acts of barbaric brutality, that my brother in the fight, Anicet Ekane, has passed away”. Nkom described the death of Ekane as an immense tragedy for the country.

The female activist said the late Ekane was not only a political leader but a man of truth. She said Ekane was “One of those rare men who carried within themselves integrity, loyalty, courage-everything this country so painfully lacks”.
Nkom regretted that: “They did not only steal his freedom. They stole his breath. They stole his final moments. They tried to extinguish a voice that asked for only one thing- the truth of the winner”.

In a similar outing yesterday, the interim leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, MRC Party, Mamadou Mota, said the death of Anicet Ekane in detention was not an accident but “yet another piece in the case file against a regime whose only ideology is survival”.

“The Cameroon Renaissance Movement speaks of political assassination? The term is too weak. This is a crime of the state, committed with the shameful complicity of silence and the calculated disregard of United Nations officials and the embassies of Cameroon’s so-called partner countries,” he continued.

“We are not mourning; we are stating a fact. That of a State where the law is nothing but a rag and human life a bargaining chip. Anicet Ekane died to remind us that under this regime, every breath of the opposition is a provocation punishable by death,” he concluded.

Born to fight for the truth

Georges Anicet Ekane, it should be said, was born on April 17, 1951, in Douala.

He pursued his Secondary Education at Lycée Joss in Douala, later at Collège Alfred Saker, before enrolling into Collège Saint-Pierre in Lille, France. 

The late Ekane studied at the University of Lille 1, France, where he specialised in Economics and Administration.

Anicet Ekane joined the National Union of Students of Kamerun, UNEK, on September 21, 1971. 

UNEK, it should be said, was an active syndicate fighting for the rights of Cameroonian students in France. Ekane’s membership in UNEK marked the start of his political activism.

Ekane’s political journey, activism 

In 1973, Anicet Ekane joined the UPC party, where he was an active militant in the diaspora until his resignation. 

In 1983, Ekane returned to Cameroon and clandestinely carried out UPC activities. He assisted Barrister Yondo Black in the coordination of a pressure group, “democrates patriotes,” till 1989.

On February 19, 1990, Anicet Ekane and some members of the “democrates patriotes” were arrested and brought before the Yaounde Military Court. 

He was slammed a four-year jail term with FCFA 20 million fine. 

During his time in detention, he was held at the Brigade Mobile Mixed, BMM-CENER, and later transferred to the Batouri, Yokaduma and Edea prisons.

On August 14, 1990, he was released after a presidential pardon. This only fueled his determination to continue his political activism.

In March 1991, Anicet Ekane, alongside others, created the UPC-MANIDEM. 

An official request for the creation of the MANIDEM party was later submitted to the administration in 1992. In December 1991, Anicet Ekane was elected National Secretary for Coordination. That was during the UPC Congress in Bamoungoum, Bafoussam. He acted at the same time as the Spokesperson of UPC-MANIDEM.

MANIDEM party was in 1995 recognised with Anicet EKANE as President. He led the party from 1995 to 2009, when he stepped down from his position.

In 2018, he returned at the helm of a Caretaker Committee of MANIDEM. He was later recognised as President of MANIDEM by government.

We gathered that government, yesterday morning, handed Ekane’s corpse to his widow, in the presence of his lawyers. We equally gathered that his mortal remains have been deposited at the Yaounde Central Hospital mortuary.

At press time, details of his burial arrangements were short in supply.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3643 of Tuesday December 02, 2025