Take Action – Free Djeukam TCHAMENI Now

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Use the form below to send a message directly to the Office of the President of Cameroon. Your email will be automatically sent to cellcom@prc.cm, the official public communication
address of the Presidency.

Call on President Paul Biya to:

Immediately release Djeukam TCHAMENI, Anicet EKANE, and all political detainees
End the use of military courts against civilians
Respect the Constitution, the African Charter, and international human rights obligations
Restore civil liberties and guarantee the right to peaceful political participation

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Message

President of the Republic of Cameroon Yaoundé, Cameroon<h3>Subject: URGENT – Death in Detention of Mr. Anicet EKANE &amp; Immediate Need for the Release of Mr. Djeukam TCHAMENI and All Political Prisoners</h3>Your Excellency,I write to you with profound concern and deep alarm following the tragic death of Mr. Anicet EKANE, President of MANIDEM and co-founder of the Union for Change, who died on December 1, 2025, while in state custody. His passing—after weeks of arbitrary detention and the deliberate denial of essential medical care— has shocked the conscience of citizens, civil society actors, and international human rights organizations.This tragedy has intensified fears for the safety and life of Mr. Djeukam TCHAMENI, who was first held at the Secretariat of State for Defense (SED) under harsh and unlawful conditions and has now been placed in provisional detention at the Yaoundé Central Prison. His transfer does not alleviate concern; rather, it heightens it, as it formalizes an unjust prosecution before an incompetent jurisdiction and exposes him to prolonged detention under conditions that have already proven fatal for Mr. EKANE.<hr><h3>A Death That Raises Grave Responsibilities</h3>The circumstances of Mr. EKANE’s death raise serious questions about the treatment of political detainees in Cameroon. His fragile health was well known. His lawyers, family, and medical professionals issued repeated warnings, yet he was denied the urgent and adequate treatment that could have saved his life.Across the nation and abroad, his death is not perceived as an accident, but as the foreseeable—and avoidable—consequence of a system of politically motivated detention.<hr><h3>A Climate of Repression After the 2025 Election</h3>Both Mr. EKANE and Mr. TCHAMENI were kidnapped during the wave of repression that followed the 2025 presidential election—a period marked by:<ul><li>More than 2,000 arrests</li><li>Numerous enforced disappearances</li><li>Many injuries</li><li>Several deaths</li></ul>Their political engagement has always been peaceful, grounded in civic education, democratic participation, and non-violence.Mr. TCHAMENI’s placement in pre-trial detention at Yaoundé Central Prison— despite the absence of credible evidence and the inaccuracy of the charges— intensifies the perception of a politically motivated judicial process aimed at silencing dissent.<hr><h3>A Judicial Process in Violation of National and International Law</h3>The prosecution of these civilian leaders before a military tribunal violates:<ul><li>Cameroon’s Code of Military Justice</li><li>The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights</li><li>The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights</li><li>Established jurisprudence prohibiting military courts from judging civilians</li></ul>With Mr. EKANE now deceased, Mr. TCHAMENI faces a documented risk of 15 to 20 years’ imprisonment—a punishment that is entirely disproportionate and unsupported by any material evidence.<hr><h3>Cameroon Stands at a Critical Crossroads</h3>Preventing another tragic death in custody, restoring public trust, and reaffirming Cameroon’s commitment to justice require immediate and responsible action.For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to:<ol><li>Order the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Djeukam TCHAMENI, currently held at the Yaoundé Central Prison under life-threatening conditions;</li><li>Release all individuals detained in connection with the 2018 and 2025 post-electoral crises, whose continued imprisonment fuels national tension;</li><li>Authorize an independent investigation—national or international—into the death of Mr. Anicet EKANE;</li><li>Initiate an inclusive political dialogue aimed at de-escalation, national reconciliation, and the restoration of democratic legitimacy.</li></ol>Such actions would send a powerful message of responsibility, leadership, and humanity at a moment when the nation is shaken by grief, uncertainty, and escalating concern for the lives of its citizens.Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. The dignity, rights, and safety of Cameroonian citizens now depend on the decisions taken in the days ahead.Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my respectful consideration.

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