Authorities Release Body of Cameroon Opposition Figure After Holding it for Months

It has been nearly three months since Cameroon’s leading opposition figure, Anicet Ekane, died while in military detention. Ekane, aged 74, passed away on December 1 last year, just five weeks after his arrest. Since then, his body has been kept under judicial seal at the Yaoundé Central Hospital mortuary.

Authorities have now agreed to release his remains to the family, following two formal requests filed by their lawyers. This decision allows his widow and relatives to begin funeral arrangements after a long wait. The family’s legal team also hopes to obtain the autopsy report in the coming days, which has remained secret since his death.

Ekane was a senior member of an opposition coalition accused of insurrection and rebellion. The charges came after the coalition endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s claim of victory in Cameroon’s October presidential election. Official results, however, declared 92 year old incumbent Paul Biya the winner, extending his rule for another seven years.

The disputed election triggered deadly protests in several parts of the country. Bakary, who insisted he had won, later fled Cameroon. Meanwhile, Biya, who first came to power in 1982 after the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, continues to lead the nation. His decades long rule has been marked by political tension and repeated accusations of repression against opposition figures.

Ekane’s death in custody has raised serious questions about human rights and the treatment of political opponents in Cameroon. His detention and the secrecy surrounding the circumstances of his death have drawn criticism from activists and observers. For his family, the release of his body is only the first step toward closure. They continue to demand transparency and accountability, particularly through the long delayed autopsy report.

The case highlights the fragile political climate in Cameroon, where opposition voices often face intimidation and legal challenges. As the country struggles with unrest following the disputed election, the handling of Ekane’s death is likely to remain a sensitive issue both domestically and internationally.

For now, his widow and relatives are preparing to give him a proper burial, even as questions linger about how and why he died in military detention.