In brief
Eight women were killed in a single week, sparking widespread outrage in Cameroon. Renowned footballer Ajara Nchout Njoya has condemned the tragic wave of femicides, urging the state to protect women. Official figures show 50 women murdered this year, up from 77 last year. The opposition and civil‑society groups accuse the government of inaction, while a bill to curb gender‑based violence remains in review.
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 footballer Nchout Njoya Ajara has called for an end to the "tragic wave" of targeting women, saying: "Silence is complicity."
Official statistics show at least 50 women have been killed between January and April this year, compared with 77 last year, according to government figures.
In the latest case on Tuesday, a 44‑year‑old woman was killed in a hotel room in the capital Yaoundé, allegedly stabbed to death by a 22‑year‑old who was later arrested.
Ajara said: "Being a woman in Cameroon should never be a risk."
The 33‑year‑old striker has played professionally in Russia, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia, including clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan.
In the face of the tragic wave of femicides that has hit the country in recent days, she added, "Silence is complicity."
The opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party expressed outrage at the recurrent femicides, accusing the government of passivity.
The Minister for Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie‑Thérèse Abena Ondoa, condemned the worrying rise in killings and said the government is working to address the problem.
A bill to protect women against gender‑based violence is under review by the Prime Minister.
Civil‑society groups and women's rights organisations have criticised the delay in turning the bill into law, noting that the upcoming November parliamentary session focuses on budgetary debates.
They are calling for a special court to handle family disputes that lead to domestic violence.
