Anicet Ekane’s death in detention: Spare Cameroon another international shame, free all arrested!.

Beyond the announced investigations to shed light on his death, the tension around the October 12 presidential election results, which provoked his arrest on October 24, many say, should not have produced the tragedy that has befallen the nation, if the rules of democracy were scrupulously respected.

In this regard, observers say the powers that be must act in a haste to spare Cameroon another international scorn to at least, patch up what is left of its fractured political class, democracy and society. 

Paramount among actions which deserve action, critics say, should be the immediate release of all arrested in connection with the October 12, 2025 post-election protests.

Besides Anicet Ekane, whose demise under complex circumstances, continue to trouble the nation, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, had informed the polity that a total of 1,243 persons were arrested nationwide in the protests that followed presidential election results proclamation.

In the spirit of appeasement and in a bid to appease the national conscience, many say instead of holding strong to legal recourse, authorities should consider letting all those in detention free.

 This, some are saying, would not be to send across a message of promoting lawlessness but to dissipate the tension choking the polity.

Beyond the big names incarcerated in relation to the presidential election of this year, government, it is being said, should ensure everyone behind bars retains to their families.

 Having the concern remain in detention and battling at the same time to rally the nation on a forward-looking path, observers say, could be largely unproductive.

Political experts say given the intense and divisive nature of this year’s presidential polls, with consciences bruised across the board, the onus is on those in power to factor appeasement measures. Such measures, they add, will help the country avoid another embarrassment like that linked to Anicet Ekane’s demise in detention.

Big names in detention

Aside the late Anicet Ekane, another opposition personality arrested alongside him on October 24, 2025, is Djeukam Tchameni. 

Tchameni alongside Ekane, had under the aegis of the Union of Change that supported the candidacy of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, issued a statement that the Cameroon National Salvation Front, FSNC, candidate won the election. 

In addition, varsity don, Prof Aba’a Oyono, who at one time was part of the Union for Change and campaigned alongside Tchiroma, was also arrested, reportedly in Yaounde. 

With the demise of Anicet Ekane, Tchameni and Prof Oyono are the two most prominent faces behind bars who supported the candidacy of Issa Tchiroma. Authorities had also said the concerned will be tried in military courts.

In the meantime, some families have continued to claim not being in the know of the whereabouts of their relatives who were arrested during the election protests. 

This, some are saying, calls for those responsible to carry out a thorough identification of all arrested, even as calls for their release continue to gain grounds.

Keeping Biya’s promise

Many are now recalling that over 40 years ago, President Paul Biya had assured citizens that no one needed to go into the bush or exile to express their opinion.

Those recalling his declaration say, keeping people in detention for simply having a different political opinion from that of the government of the day, is contradictory to that presidential promise of years ago. 

Who was killed where?

It makes sense to recall that prior to the death of Anicet Ekane, MINAT boss, Paul Atanga Nji, during a meeting with Governor’s in Yaounde, had given details on the number of persons who died during post-election protests.

Then he had said, one protester was killed in the West Region; three in the East; three in the North; nine in the Littoral and four deaths in the Littoral Region due to a stampede. He had also insisted that nobody died in the Adamawa Region.

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