The Cameroonian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on February 24, 2026, regarding the death of Anicet Ekane, an opposition figure who died on December 1, 2025. According to Colonel Atonfack, spokesperson for the Ministry, the autopsy conducted by a panel of experts revealed a complete absence of traumatic lesions, instead citing "serious pathologies" as the cause of death in a patient with a significant medical history.
Anicet Ekane, aged 74, had been arrested for his alleged involvement in "violent demonstrations" that occurred in Douala before and after the publication of the presidential election results on October 12, 2025. At the time of his death at the Military Medical Center of the National Gendarmerie in Yaounde, he was in police custody as part of a judicial investigation. His body had remained confiscated since then, sparking outrage from MANIDEM (African Movement for New Independence and Democracy) and numerous human rights organizations.
The autopsy report specifies that additional examinations were carried out at the Centre Universitaire Romand de Médecine Légale in Switzerland. The panel of experts consisted of a professor and two doctors of medicine, whose report was submitted to the Government Commissioner at the Military Tribunal of Yaounde on February 23, 2026. The conclusions rule out the theory of extrajudicial execution, which led to the lifting of the seals and the making available of the body to the entitled parties by the Directorate of the Central Hospital of Yaounde.
Despite these findings, MANIDEM maintains its accusations of "cold killing" and "desecration", contrasting with the official medical version. The Cameroonian opposition has expressed dissatisfaction with these conclusions, despite the Swiss scientific endorsement. Voices are being raised to demand an impartial, prompt and effective investigation into the circumstances of Anicet Ekane's death, stressing the responsibility of the Cameroonian authorities towards a person who died while in their custody. The case continues to generate reactions and dismay among the Cameroonian population.
