Cameroon has witnessed a spate of femicide in the few weeks. Femicide is the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. Of the more than 20 cases recorded by authorities, nine are clear cases of femicide while the others are domestic violence, intimate partner jealousies or sexual violence. The spate of killings has attracted reactions across the political and social board as many voices have been raised to condemn the heinous acts.
The latest of the killings happened on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in a hotel room in Yaounde, the nation’s capital. It is alleged that a young boy of 22 years old lured a 44-year-old woman into a hotel room and allegedly stabbed her to death. The perpetrator was later apprehended by security forces and the hotel sealed by administration for further investigations. Going by official statistics, about 50 women have been killed in Cameroon between January and April 2026. The same sources disclose that some 77 women were killed in 2025.
Marie-Thérèse Abena ondoa, Cameroon’s Minister for Women’s Empowerment and the Family has condemned in very strong terms the rising spate of femicide and has promised a crackdown on the phenomenon by government.
Going by latest statistics from the United Nation Africa topped the list in cases of femicide in relation to its population in 2024, recording an estimated 22,600 cases of femicide.
The numbers are an estimate as some cases of femicide are believed to go unreported and many governments do not consistently record the information.
According to a non-exhaustible list of incidences compiled by Observer237, the following macabre scenes stand out clearly as cases of femicide:
– On August 25, 2026, in Mbalmayo, Nyong-et-So’o Division, Centre Region, Delphine Bih was poisoned by her husband who laced roasted pork with rat poison. Suspect Kpwe Julius confessed after arrest.
– On August 25, 2026, in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division, Centre Region, at Hotel Le Salvador, teacher Beguel Merline was murdered by a man she met online.
– On August 23, 2026, in Logpom neighborhood, Douala, Wouri Division, Littoral Region, butcher Tezembong Herve hacked his wife to death in front of their three children.
– On August 21, 2026, in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division, Centre Region, a woman was decapitated by the father of her three children who locked her body in the house before fleeing
– On August 18, 2026, in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division, Centre Region, a returnee from Libya decapitated his partner who was pregnant by another man.
– On August 12, 2026, in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division, Centre Region, Blandine Diane, 3 months pregnant, was killed by her boyfriend Enock Osee after she asked for her 50,000 FCFA.
– On August 11, 2026, in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division, Centre Region, Daina Tikeng, married for 2 months, was strangled to death by her husband who dumped her body in a field.
– On August 13, 2026, in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division, Centre Region, student Kenfack Fortune was thrown to her death from a speeding vehicle after an evening with two Cameroonian soldiers.
– On August 8, 2026, in Bitoutouk village, Nyong-et-Kelle Division, Centre Region, 16-year-old Ekassy Samantha was lured into the bush and raped to death by Pala Miguel.
However, some of the cases, though being the killing of women do not meet the strict definition of femicide and thus requires further investigation. These include the following:
– On August 6, 2026, in Bokito, Mbam-et-Inoubou Division, Centre Region, a pregnant woman died during a C-section allegedly performed by interns at the Bokito District Hospital. This appears to be medical negligence, not gender-based murder.
– On August 7, 2026, in Kpokolata neighborhood, Bertoua, Lom-et-Djerem Division, East Region, a fish seller was fatally attacked and robbed on her way home. Motive appears to be theft.
– On August 7, 2026, in Ngat village, Nyong-et-So’o Division, Centre Region, a woman was murdered and her body dumped on the road. Motive remains unclear.
– On August 20, 2026, in Sapelli neighborhood, Belabo, Lom-et-Djerem Division, East Region, a woman was found raped and murdered. Investigation pending to establish gender motive.
– On August 21, 2026, in Meiganga, Mbere Division, Adamawa Region, a woman seeking work was killed and buried at the foot of a house by a suspected trafficker of human bones. Case points to ritual crime rather than intimate femicide.
The increasing and worrying cases of femicide has put government on her toes, especially as voices are being raised by women and right’s groups for women to be protected by appropriate legislation.
Witten with additional information from Observer237
