The recent killing of at least eight women within a week has ignited public outrage in Cameroon, prompting demands for increased government action to protect women and girls.

Renowned Cameroonian footballer Nchout Njoya Ajara has spoken out against the "tragic wave" of femicides, warning that "silence is complicity." Ajara, one of the country's greatest female footballers, stated, "Being a woman in Cameroon should never be a risk." The 33-year-old striker has played professionally across Russia, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, representing clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan.

According to official figures, at least 50 women were killed between January and April 2026, compared to 77 in the same period last year. The government has expressed concern over the rise in attacks. In the latest incident, a 44-year-old woman was stabbed to death in a hotel room in the capital, Yaoundé, by a 22-year-old who was subsequently arrested.

Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, the minister for Women's Empowerment and the Family, condemned the "worrying" increase in killings in a video published by state media and affirmed that the government is working to address the issue.

UN data from 2024 indicates that Africa had the highest total number of femicide victims and the highest rate relative to its population, with an estimated 22,600 cases.

Sources