The autopsy report regarding the death of Anicet Ekane, released by the Ministry of Defense, has sparked considerable controversy. The official conclusions point to a natural death, but this version is being challenged by figures in Cameroonian civil society, notably Rebecca Enonchong.
Anicet Ekane, 74, and president of MANIDEM, died on December 1, 2025, while in the custody of the Centre Médical Militaire de la Gendarmerie Nationale in Yaoundé. According to a statement by Vessel Captain Cyrille Atonfack Guemo, the autopsy report was prepared by a team of experts, including a professor and two doctors, with additional examinations carried out in Switzerland at the Centre Universitaire Romand de Médecine Légale. The document, submitted on February 23, 2026, to the Government Commissioner at the Yaoundé Military Tribunal, concludes that there were no traumatic lesions and highlights pre-existing pathologies as the cause of death.
However, these conclusions have been met with skepticism by some Cameroonians. Rebecca Enonchong, an influential businesswoman, voiced her disagreement on the social network X, accusing the government of Paul Biya of falsification. "So they are trying to make people believe that Anicet Ekane's death was a 'natural death' when he was in police custody," she said, questioning the credibility of the investigation.
Enonchong added, "They must really be trying to improve Cameroon's international image, because Cameroonians no longer believe their lies. It's pure manipulation." Her words reflect a sense of mistrust towards government institutions and highlight the sensitivity of the case.
The death of Anicet Ekane and the circumstances surrounding his autopsy continue to raise questions and fuel public debate in Cameroon. The case highlights the tensions between the government and certain segments of civil society, particularly with regard to transparency and accountability in state affairs. Reactions to this autopsy report show a persistent divide in the trust placed in official institutions.
