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 to have rightfully won the election, which was officially awarded to the 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya. Tchiroma Bakary has since fled to The Gambia.
No official cause of Ekane's death has been announced, but his party has accused the authorities of denying him access to his medication, a claim the government has denied.
Ekane reportedly died at a military medical facility after his health worsened over the weekend. A spokesman for his party said, We have no clarification... His wife was just presented the corpse of her husband. The Defense Ministry stated that Ekane had suffered from various chronic illnesses and had been well cared for by doctors since his arrest on October 24.
Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi offered his condolences to Ekane's family and stated that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of his death.
Prominent anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna referred to Ekane's death as the extinguishing of a fierce and passionate flame that burned for democratic freedom. He expressed disappointment over the failure to release Ekane for medical treatment despite his deteriorating health.
Ekane had been accused of hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection, though he was never formally charged or brought before a judge, which his lawyer described as an illegal detention.
Following his death, disturbances erupted across the nation as supporters mourned, gathering at the party headquarters in Douala. They voiced their anger online and reported that security forces had surrounded Manidem's premises.
Ekane initially supported another opposition candidate, Maurice Kamto, whose candidacy was rejected ahead of the presidential election. This led Ekane and others to form the Union for Change Coalition, which chose Tchiroma Bakary as its candidate.
Following the elections, at least 48 people lost their lives during protests against the results, according to the United Nations. The Cameroonian government has refuted claims of wrongdoing in the conduct of the elections.
