Cameroon: Over 60 Women Killed in 2026 Amid Rising Femicide Crisis

Cameroon is grappling with an alarming rise in femicides, with at least 60 women killed in horrific circumstances during the first eight months of 2026. The situation has reached a new peak of terror following eight reported cases in just the past eight days. The latest incident occurred on August 25, 2026, in Yaoundé, where a 22-year-old man fatally stabbed a 44-year-old woman, Créscence Merline, in a hotel. The suspect, found with a rope and other women's identity cards, was apprehended by locals and handed over to authorities. The hotel has been sealed off as investigations proceed, fueling collective outrage and demands for justice.

Government figures reveal a grim trend: 50 women were killed in 2023, followed by 67 in 2024, and 77 in 2025. The current year's toll of over 60 before the end of August indicates a worsening crisis. Despite government measures announced in June and ongoing initiatives by civil society organizations, including awareness campaigns, training, and support for victims, the problem persists. These efforts, while active, have not yielded sustainable results. The significant increase in cases over the past four years, totaling approximately 254 women, highlights the urgency of the situation.

A major challenge lies in the legal framework, with legislation considered insufficient to specifically address femicide. Feminist jurists have proposed criminalizing femicide, but progress remains slow, compounded by delays in adopting a new Family Code. While innovative solutions are being proposed, the lack of specific legal repercussions for femicide hinders effective repression. The collective concern extends across Cameroonian society, emphasizing the need for a unified struggle involving the government, public entities, and private organizations to accelerate curative actions and combat this escalating violence against women.

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The emotion and collective indignation continue to demand justice. Both for this case and for the hundreds of previous cases.