Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an impartial and swift investigation into the death of Anicet Ekane, a prominent Cameroonian opposition leader, while in custody. Ekane, leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, died on December 1, 2025, at the State Defense Secretariat detention facility. His arrest followed a contentious presidential election, which saw Paul Biya reelected for an eighth term. Ekane faced charges including hostility against the state and calls for insurrection, all of which he denied.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher at HRW, expressed concern that Ekane’s death might highlight systemic failures in the protection of detainees’ rights in Cameroon. Ekane’s legal team and family allege that he was denied adequate medical care for his pre-existing respiratory issues, which deteriorated during his detention. Despite repeated requests, they claim Ekane was not transferred to a civilian hospital, nor was he provided necessary treatment, mentioning that his oxygen concentrator was confiscated at arrest. The report further details these allegations.
Cameroonian officials, however, including Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi, have asserted that Ekane received appropriate care at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Center. They announced that an investigation had begun, promising rigorous legal proceedings and communication.
The presidency of Paul Biya, ruling since 1982, has been characterized by economic challenges and infrastructure decline, leading to significant unrest after his recent re-election. Protests were reportedly met with force and mass arrests. A network of 149 lawyers, coordinated by Cameroonian attorney Thierry Njifen, has been established to defend the approximately 2,000 individuals detained. Njifen emphasized that regardless of the accusations, every individual deserves a defense, highlighting the importance of legal rights in a state aspiring to uphold the rule of law.
International guidelines stress the necessity of thorough, prompt, and impartial investigations into deaths suggesting unnatural causes while in custody, echoing the demands for transparency and justice from human rights organizations worldwide.