Cameroon's opposition leader dies in detention

Cameroon’s opposition leader Anicet Ekane, who was arrested in October on charges of insurrection, died on Monday in detention, his lawyer said. He was 74.

Lawyer Emmanuel Simh told reporters that Ekane had been detained on the gendarmerie premises since his arrest on October 24 on charges of insurrection.

Simh alleged that Ekane was “critically sick, but denied appropriate treatment” while in custody.

Cameroon’s Defence Ministry said the deceased suffered from chronic pathologies and benefited from “appropriate care by the Military Medical Corps,” in consultation with his personal doctors.

Investigation launched to establish cause of death

“The deceased, who suffered from various chronic illnesses, had been hospitalised at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Centre,” the ministry said.

The ministry said an investigation was initiated to establish the exact circumstances of Ekane’s death.

Ekane, who headed the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) party, was arrested along with other top opposition figures amid protests that rocked the country over allegations of fraud in the recent presidential election.

The arrest in Cameroon’s commercial capital Douala came after he declared support for Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the man who presented a challenge to President Paul Biya in the October 12 presidential election.

President Biya secures re-election

Biya, 92, was declared the winner of the election, which Tchiroma claimed to have won.

Last month, Tchiroma sought refuge in The Gambia, citing his safety concerns in the wake of recent political tensions.