The World Liberty Congress expresses profound sorrow and outrage at the death of Cameroonian opposition leader Anicet Ekane, who passed away in state custody on 1 December 2025. Mr. Ekane, aged 74, was arrested in October for protesting the widely discredited reelection of President Paul Biya. His detention, and the conditions surrounding it, represent a grave violation of fundamental human rights.
Despite repeated pleas from his family, lawyer, and colleagues, Mr. Ekane was denied adequate medical attention even as his health rapidly deteriorated. Reports indicate that he struggled to breathe and did not receive the urgent treatment he required. His death was not inevitable — it was preventable.
The World Liberty Congress strongly condemns the Cameroonian authorities for their failure to uphold the basic rights and dignity of a political detainee. We call for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his arrest, the denial of medical care, and the chain of command responsible for his welfare.
We stand in solidarity with his family, his party, and all Cameroonians demanding justice. Mr. Ekane’s death must not be in vain; it should strengthen the global resolve to confront authoritarian abuses and protect democratic freedoms across Africa and beyond.
