Cameroon's Rising Femicide Wave: Football Legend Calls for Urgent Action
The killing of at least eight women in a week has sparked outrage in Cameroon, with many calling on the government to do more to protect women and girls.
Renowned football star Ajara Nchout Njoya, who has played across Europe and the Middle East, stepped forward to denounce what she describes as a “tragic wave” of femicides sweeping the nation.
Government officials have noted a worrying trend: 50 women have been killed between January and April this year, compared with 77 in the same period last year, they say. In a recent case, a 44‑year‑old hotel guest in Yaoundé was stabbed to death by a 22‑year‑old suspect who has since been arrested.
'Being a woman in Cameroon should never be a risk,' Nchout Njoya said, adding that the violence must be curbed with immediate policy action.
Nchout Njoya, a 33‑year‑old striker, cautions that “silence is complicity” amid the rising femicides that affect not only high‑profile victims but ordinary women across the country.
In response, the Minister for Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie‑Thérèse Abena Ondoa, condemned the uptick in killings and announced the government’s intent to review a bill aimed at protecting women from gender‑based violence. Civil society, however, calls for urgency, pointing out that a parliamentary session in November focuses on budgetary debates, making it unclear if the bill will be enacted promptly.
Viviane Tathi, who documents femicide cases, proposes establishing a special court dedicated to handling family dispute cases that frequently lead to domestic violence.
Stemming this crisis will require swift legislative measures, transparent enforcement, and collective societal action.
