The death of political opponent Anicet Ekane continues to spark strong reactions in Cameroon. Mamadou Mota, a leading opposition figure, denounced on February 25, 2025, the findings of the investigation conducted by the Ministry of Defense, calling the official version a "medical fiction".
According to Mota, the results of the investigation, which attribute Anicet Ekane's death to natural causes, are merely a government ploy to conceal the truth. Ekane, 74, was arrested on October 24, 2025, in Douala, accused of fomenting violent protests after the disputed presidential election. He died on December 1, 2025, at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre in Yaoundé.
Mamadou Mota expressed outrage at this version of events: "You don't arrest an opponent after a contested election only for him to end up 'naturally' in the morgue two months later". He insinuates that Ekane's arrest and death constitute a "death sentence without trial".
Mota also criticizes the use of Swiss forensic expertise, claiming that its independence is questionable. He questions why the authorities waited until Ekane was in prison rather than placing him in a hospital if he was suffering from serious health problems.
Several voices have called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Anicet Ekane's death. Human Rights Watch had called for an impartial investigation, stressing the responsibility of the Cameroonian authorities towards those who die in detention. Ekane's relatives had reported that his health had deteriorated in prison and that he had not received appropriate care. His respiratory assistance device was allegedly confiscated at the time of his arrest.
The Anicet Ekane case highlights the ongoing political tensions in Cameroon and questions regarding the treatment of political opponents. The Cameroonian government maintains that Ekane died of natural causes and that an investigation was conducted in accordance with legal procedures.
Anicet Ekane's body was handed over to his family on February 23, 2025.
