Djeukam Tchameni
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Timeline of Events

Before the Arrests
Political Context (January–October 2025)

January–September 2025

Rising civic mobilization

  • A historic wave of civic engagement grows across Cameroon around the Transition Refondatrice platform.
  • The Union for the Change (UPC2025), co-founded by Djeukam TCHAMENI (MDI) and Anicet EKANE (MANIDEM), becomes the largest pro-democracy coalition in decades.
  • The coalition supports Issa Tchiroma Bakary, widely believed to have won the presidential election in the ballots.
October 2025

Escalating tensions after disputed election results

  • Civil society observation tallies indicate a clear victory for the UPC2025 candidate.
  • Contradictory official results trigger a major post-electoral crisis.
  • Repression intensifies: mass arrests, disappearances, injuries, and dozens of deaths are reported.
21 October 2025

Call for a Peaceful Civic Day

  • UPC2025 announces 23 October as a peaceful, symbolic day to celebrate the people’s electoral victory.
  • Djeukam TCHAMENI publicly reiterates principles of non-violence, civic discipline, and constitutional expression.
23 October 2025

Mass Arrests Nationwide

  • Nearly 2,000 people arrested, including activists and civilians.
  • Numerous enforced disappearances, many injured, around sixty deaths.
24 October 2025

Kidnapping of Coalition Leaders

Kidnapping of Djeukam TCHAMENI

  • At 14:00 GMT, armed state forces abduct him at his home in Bonaberi (Douala).
  • No arrest warrant.
  • Immediately taken to the State Secretariat for Defense (SED) in Yaoundé.

Kidnapping of Anicet EKANE

  • The same day, armed forces kidnap Anicet EKANE, President of MANIDEM and cofounder of UPC2025.
  • His fragile health condition is ignored.
  • He is detained in similar conditions at the SED.
Late October – November 2025

Illegal Detention and Abuses

1- Illegal detention exceeding the 8-day limit

  • Both men are held for weeks, violating Cameroonian law and the Code of Military Justice.

2- No access to lawyers or files

  • Defense teams are denied file access.
  • Family visits are restricted.
  • Reports of psychological pressure emerge.

3- Charges announced

They are accused of:

  • Hostility against the homeland
  • Insurrection
  • Incitement to insurrection
    Charges carrying 15–20 years in prison under Articles 60–62 of the Military Justice Code.
1 December 2025

Death of Anicet EKANE in Custody

A turning point in the crisis

  • At around 7:00 a.m., Anicet EKANE dies at the SED infirmary, after more than a monthof illegal detention.
  • His death occurs after:
    1- the confiscation of his medical oxygen equipment
    2- repeated refusals to provide adequate medical care
    3- multiple alerts issued by his family, lawyers, and coalition representatives
  • His condition was medically manageable had he received timely treatment.
  • His death triggers shock, outrage, and widespread denunciation of state responsibility.
After 1 December 2025

Escalation of the Crisis

  • Civil society, political movements, and international observers condemn the death as the result of deliberate medical negligence.
  • Calls intensify for:
    1- An independent international investigation,
    2- The release of all political prisoners,
    3- Accountability for violations committed during the post-electoral crisis.
  • Djeukam TCHAMENI continues to be transferred before the military tribunal despite the illegality of the procedure and the deteriorating human-rights situation

Timeline of Events

Before the Arrests
Political Context (January–December 2025)

Jan–Sept 2025

Rising Civic Mobilization

A historic civic movement grows around the Transition Refondatrice. The Union for the Change (UPC2025), co-founded by Djeukam TCHAMENI and Anicet EKANE, becomes the largest pro-democracy coalition in decades.

12 Oct 2025

Victory at the Ballot Box

Citizen tallies and observer reports indicate a clear victory of UPC2025 candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary. The official results will later contradict these findings.

21 Oct 2025

Call for a Peaceful Civic Day

UPC2025 calls for 23 October to be a peaceful civic day celebrating the people’s electoral victory. In his interview, Djeukam reiterates non-violence, civic discipline, and respect for public order.

23 Oct 2025

Mass Arrests Nationwide

Nearly 2,000 people are arrested across Cameroon. Enforced disappearances, many injured, and around sixty deaths occur during protests and repressive operations.

24 Oct 2025

Kidnapping of Coalition Leaders

  • Armed forces kidnap Djeukam TCHAMENI at his home in Bonaberi (Douala), without a warrant, and transfer him to the SED in Yaoundé.
  • Anicet EKANE is also kidnapped the same day despite his fragile health, and detained under similar conditions.

Late Oct–Nov 2025

Illegal Detention & Abuses

  • Detention far beyond the 8-day legal limit
  • Lawyers denied access to case files
  • Restricted family visits and psychological pressure

Nov 2025

Political Charges Announced

Both leaders are accused of “hostility against the homeland”, “insurrection”, and “incitement to insurrection” — offenses carrying 15–20 years in prison under the Military Justice Code.

5 Dec 2025

Military Judge Orders Provisional Detention

A military examining magistrate orders six months of provisional detention, renewable twice, based on vague “security” grounds — violating fair-trial norms.

1 Dec 2025

Death of Anicet EKANE in Custody

At around 7:00 a.m., Anicet EKANE dies at the SED infirmary after weeks of illegal detention, confiscation of his oxygen device, and repeated denial of medical care. His death is widely denounced as a deliberate political killing.

After 1 Dec 2025

Outrage & Mobilisation

Civil society, political movements, the diaspora, and international actors demand:

  • an independent international investigation into his death,
  • the release of all political prisoners,
  • accountability for violations committed during the post-electoral crisis.

Ongoing

Djeukam Before the Military Tribunal

Despite the death of his co-founder and the illegality of military jurisdiction over civilians, Djeukam continues to be brought before the military tribunal and risks a 15–20 year sentence.