Cameroon's defence ministry says opposition figure Anicet Ekane died of natural causes in custody; family and rights groups seek independent investigation
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Anicet Ekane, leader of the Manidem party who backed candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary's claim of victory in the October 2025 presidential election, was arrested in Douala on 24 October 2025 and held in Yaounde at the State Secretariat for Defence. He died in detention on 1 December 2025. His family says authorities confiscated the respiratory device he used daily. Human Rights Watch and ACAT France called on 3 December for an independent investigation. On 25 February 2026 the Defence Ministry said an autopsy found natural death with no traumatic injuries; the family disputes this, and Canada, the UK and the EU have called for a transparent investigation.
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- africaradio.com
Defense Ministry announced on 25 February 2026 that the autopsy found natural death, 'no traumatic injuries'
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