Ekane's death: Tchiroma’s blessing in disguised!.

The death of MANIDEM President, Anicent Ekane, has been felt and mourned, not only by family members and friends but by his political associates, national and the international community.

It has also benefited Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who, in his tribute from exile in The Gambia, expressed shock and dismay upon learning of the death of the man he called his "brother".

According to him, "in Cameroon, every opponent is treated like a criminal, every dissenting voice as a danger." He emphasised that Anicet Ekane's detention for almost a month was no longer legally justified.

It has given him the missile to escalate the contested presidential election he claimed he won. He would surely have been caged for allegation of calling for "insurrection" and related charges that led to the death of Anicnt Ekane, who was one of those in the forefront propagating the "stolen" victory.

Tchiroma sneaked out of the country on November 1, 2025, amidst a web of security attempts to arrest him. His whereabouts remained a matter of conjecture in the media until November 27, when The Gambia officially announced he was being hosted on humanitarian grounds.

The host clarified that it consulted Nigeria before accepting him, and that he will not be permitted to use Gambian soil for “subversive activities".

Why consult Nigeria which had hosted him for one week and after a failed attempt to arrest him? Cameroon was reported to be preparing an extradition request.

As reported by various international media, Nigeria didn't want to chill relations with Cameroon, even though it never congratulated President Biya for his victory or swearing-in. Nigeria has a lot in common with Cameroon, including sharing nearly 2,000 kilometres of borders.

They are both members of the Lake Chad Commission and contribute troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram. Cameroon is also host to some five million Nigerians.

Abuja did not also want to be tempted to repeat the error committed when it deported separatist leaders to Cameroon in 2018 and was faulted by its own court.

With those concerns and its commitment to promoting democracy and human rights in Africa, Nigeria is said to have convinced The Gambia to accommodate the Cameroon opposition firebrand.

As some diplomatic sources have commented, "Tchiroma’s arrival in Banjul does not resolve Cameroon’s electoral crisis but infuses new dimensions to it. It internationalises the disputed election, drawing in ECOWAS, the AU and neighbouring States. The AU Commission chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Biya but also "expressed concern over post-election violence".

Even though The Gambia said Tchiroma will not be allowed to use its territory to destabilise Cameroon, he has from exile already appointed his Spokesperson, Alice Nkom, and called for two ghost town protests in Cameroon to the chagrin of Yaounde.

With the death of Anicet Ekane, he has also used it to indict the government as has some diplomatic missions. The British High Commission stated that it was "saddened and concerned by the death in custody" of the Cameroonian opposition figure.

The diplomatic mission "encourages" Yaounde "to strengthen measures guaranteeing the health, safety, and rights of all detainees" and expressed its readiness "to support these efforts".

While offering its condolences to the family of the deceased, the British High Commission "welcomes the authorities' announcement of an inquiry into the circumstances of his death" and "urges that it be conducted thoroughly and transparently".

For its part, the Canadian High Commission pointed out that the circumstances surrounding the death of Anicet Ekane are “concerning” and “expressed its concerns to the Cameroonian authorities” and “encourages an independent investigation”.

The European Union delegation to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, has also stated that Anicet Ekane’s death leaves a significant void in Cameroonian public discourse, emphasising “the urgent need to guarantee the physical integrity of all political actors and to ensure justice is served” in order to combat “the excessive use of violence and human rights violations”.

The European Union reiterated its call for the release of “all those arbitrarily detained since the presidential election of October 12, 2025”.

Such diplomatic criticisms and recommendations for justice have without qualm catapulted Tchiroma’s profile, his political and diplomatic symbolism beyond Cameroon, with focus on the uncertainty of the contested election.

Tchiroma and supporters around the world are also using the death of Anicet Ekane to fuel protests, questioning the integrity of national investigations and human rights protections that are enshrined in various international conventions ratified by Cameroon.

They are irritating worries that can destabilise the Biya regime, especially with Tchiroma, a former government Spokesman-turned vitriolic opponent who knows its soft spots, and cannot be gaged any more.

What's the solution for the Biya regime whose legality and legitimacy are not only under attack but inviting diplomatic scrutiny?

The Guardian Post shares the recommendations of some diplomatic commentators for a negotiated political settlement. It should involve electoral reforms, freedom of all those detained in connection with the post-election violence and conflict in the North West and South West Regions and prohibition of civilians being tried in military courts.

There is also the need for a transition government, respect of freedoms enshrined in the liberty laws and an independent commission set up to investigate the cause of the arrest and death of Anicet Ekane, which has given Tchiroma and acolytes the artillery to get under the sensitive skin of the Biya regime. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3646 of Friday December 05, 2025