Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane dies in detention

Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane died in detention in Yaounde on Monday morning, the vice president of his party told AFP.The left-wing nationalist politician was arrested in Douala on October 24, on the eve of the publication of presidential election results that returned 92-year-old Paula Biya to power for an eighth mandate.Ekane was close to fellow opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who contested Biya's 43-year grip on power in the October 12 election."Anicet Ekane died this morning in Yaounde, where he had been transferred after his arrest at the end of October in Douala," Valentin Dongmo of the African Movement for the New Independence of Cameroon (Manidem) party said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppThe exact circumstances of Ekane's death remain unclear."Anicet Ekane was arrested in Douala and then transferred to Yaounde, where he was held at the State Defence Secretariat (SED). It was there that his health began to deteriorate," according to Dongmo."We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

The left-wing nationalist politician was arrested in Douala on October 24, on the eve of the publication of presidential election results that returned 92-year-old Paula Biya to power for an eighth mandate.Ekane was close to fellow opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who contested Biya's 43-year grip on power in the October 12 election."Anicet Ekane died this morning in Yaounde, where he had been transferred after his arrest at the end of October in Douala," Valentin Dongmo of the African Movement for the New Independence of Cameroon (Manidem) party said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppThe exact circumstances of Ekane's death remain unclear."Anicet Ekane was arrested in Douala and then transferred to Yaounde, where he was held at the State Defence Secretariat (SED). It was there that his health began to deteriorate," according to Dongmo."We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Ekane was close to fellow opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who contested Biya's 43-year grip on power in the October 12 election."Anicet Ekane died this morning in Yaounde, where he had been transferred after his arrest at the end of October in Douala," Valentin Dongmo of the African Movement for the New Independence of Cameroon (Manidem) party said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppThe exact circumstances of Ekane's death remain unclear."Anicet Ekane was arrested in Douala and then transferred to Yaounde, where he was held at the State Defence Secretariat (SED). It was there that his health began to deteriorate," according to Dongmo."We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

"Anicet Ekane died this morning in Yaounde, where he had been transferred after his arrest at the end of October in Douala," Valentin Dongmo of the African Movement for the New Independence of Cameroon (Manidem) party said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppThe exact circumstances of Ekane's death remain unclear."Anicet Ekane was arrested in Douala and then transferred to Yaounde, where he was held at the State Defence Secretariat (SED). It was there that his health began to deteriorate," according to Dongmo."We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

The exact circumstances of Ekane's death remain unclear."Anicet Ekane was arrested in Douala and then transferred to Yaounde, where he was held at the State Defence Secretariat (SED). It was there that his health began to deteriorate," according to Dongmo."We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

"Anicet Ekane was arrested in Douala and then transferred to Yaounde, where he was held at the State Defence Secretariat (SED). It was there that his health began to deteriorate," according to Dongmo."We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

"We repeatedly alerted the authorities, including the military court administration, requesting that Anicet Ekane be transferred to a hospital with the appropriate facilities for better care, but our requests did not receive a favourable response," he said.He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

He added that "just yesterday" (Sunday), Ekane's supporters had called for a "medical evacuation".Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Ekane and other political leaders were arrested for publicly supporting Bakary's self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Manidem had denounced the "arbitrary" arrests aiming to "intimidate" Cameroonians.According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

According to political analyst Stephane Akoa, the SED, an administrative unit attached to the defence ministry, has allowed the political system to "maintain strict control over VIP detainees or those considered as such", without guaranteeing them "better treatment."Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Akoa added that the death of Ekane "crudely reminds us that detention conditions in Cameroon are extremely poor, including "in some cases a disregard for human rights", despite international conventions the country has ratified.The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

The defence ministry said in a statement Monday it denied any negligence, insisting "he was appropriately cared for by the medical staff".The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

The ministry noted an investigation has been opened to "precisely determine the circumstances of death".Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Born in Douala in 1951, Ekane joined the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) party in 1973, which he then quit to create Manidem in 1995.Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletterBy clicking on theSIGN UPbutton, you agree to ourTerms & Conditionsand thePrivacy PolicySIGN UPIn February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

In February 1990, he and other members of the Yondo Black group were arrested. He was convicted at a military trial before being pardoned several months later.Stay Informed, Stay Empowered: Download the Standard ePaper App!Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Ekane led Manidem for several years and ran as its presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

His death has triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments and special
offers!

Pick your favourite topics below for a tailor made homepage just for you