Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), has made an urgent appeal to Cameroonian authorities regarding the remains of Anicet Ekane, an opposition figure who died in detention on December 1, 2025. Kamto demands the immediate return of the body to his family, denouncing a confiscation that has lasted for three months and prevents the organization of the funeral.
Anicet Ekane, president of MANIDEM (African Movement for New Independence and Democracy), was arrested on October 24, 2025, in Douala, amidst the tense post-election environment. Kamto condemns the conditions of his arrest, stating that Ekane was "hooded like a wild beast" and deprived of the respiratory assistance device he needed. For the president of the MRC, these elements, as well as the confiscation of the body, reinforce the feeling of a "political assassination".
Beyond the return of Anicet Ekane's body, Maurice Kamto also calls for the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including those arrested in connection with the post-election crisis of October 2025. This request comes in a context of high political tensions in Cameroon, marked by post-election protests and accusations of political repression.
The death of Anicet Ekane in detention sparked strong reactions both in Cameroon and abroad. Human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, had called for an impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death. The lack of information on the results of any investigation fuels Maurice Kamto's accusations today.
While Maurice Kamto's request has broad political support, its outcome remains uncertain. The Cameroonian government has a habit of conducting investigations into sensitive cases, but the results are often delayed, raising doubts about the transparency and impartiality of these procedures. In the meantime, Anicet Ekane's family remains deprived of the body of their loved one, and political tensions persist.
