In Cameroon, controversy is mounting over the body of Anicet Ekane, an opposition figure who died in detention on December 1, 2025. More than three months after his death, his remains have not yet been returned to his family, sparking outrage from relatives and supporters. On February 21, 2026, Maurice Kamto, president of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), issued a statement denouncing the state's "confiscation" of the body and calling the circumstances of his death a "political assassination".
Anicet Ekane, president of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), was arrested on October 24, 2025, in Douala, and then imprisoned at the State Secretariat for Defense (SED) in Yaoundé. According to several sources, he was allegedly denied essential medical care, including his oxygen therapy equipment, which may have contributed to his death. Cameroonian authorities had charged him with "insurrection" and "incitement to rebellion" in the context of the post-election crisis of October 2025, accusations that his party considered politically motivated.
The MRC views the non-return of Anicet Ekane's body as a deliberate strategy to neutralize the opposition. By preventing the funeral, the government would seek to stifle any political mobilization and erase the memory of the opponent. This case comes in a context of heightened political tensions in Cameroon, marked by arrests of activists and political figures.
Maurice Kamto has strongly condemned what he considers a "state crime". He recalled Anicet Ekane's commitment to a democratic Cameroon and promised to continue their common struggle. Kamto had been nominated by MANIDEM as a candidate in the presidential election of October 12, 2025. He denounced the exploitation of death for political purposes and called for the release of all political prisoners, including minors, detained in connection with the post-election crisis.
The MRC demands the immediate return of Anicet Ekane's body and the release of all political prisoners. Human rights organizations have also called for an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of his death. Human Rights Watch stressed that Cameroonian authorities had a responsibility to determine the cause of death, establish accountability and take steps to prevent further deaths in detention.
This case is causing strong emotion within the Cameroonian and international public opinion. It fuels criticism of the Cameroonian government, accused of authoritarian excesses and human rights violations. The non-return of the body is seen as a lack of respect for the family of the deceased and an attempt to silence the opposition.
The retention of Anicet Ekane's body by the Cameroonian state continues to provoke outrage and calls for justice. This case highlights the persistent political tensions in Cameroon and concerns about respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The outcome of this case could have lasting consequences on the Cameroonian political scene.
