Left-wing Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane has died in detention, five weeks after he was arrested, his lawyers and party have announced.
Ekane, 74, was among the leaders of an opposition coalition who endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary in October's presidential election. Tchiroma Bakary claims he rightfully won the poll, which was officially won by the incumbent 92-year-old president, Paul Biya.
No official cause of Ekane's death has been announced. His party has accused the authorities of denying him access to medication, a charge the government denies.
According to a spokesman for Ekane's African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Manidem) party, Ekane died on Monday morning at a military medical facility after his health worsened over the weekend. We have no clarification... His wife had been called to come and when she found herself there, she was just presented the corpse of her husband, the spokesman said.
Defence ministry spokesperson Capt Cyrille Serge Atonfack stated that Ekane died from illness but did not provide further details. He claimed, The deceased, who suffered from various chronic pathologies, had been interned at the Military Medical Centre of the National Gendarmerie, assuring that he had been well cared for since his arrest on October 24.
Ekane was accused of hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection, yet he was never formally charged. His lawyer described his detention as illegal.\p>
Rumors about Ekane's death had circulated in recent weeks, and his party members had demanded to see him dead or alive. His death has caused a wave of grief and anger across the nation, with supporters gathering at the party headquarters in Douala.
The authorities have announced an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of Ekane's death.
