Cameroon civil society groups respond to surge in femicides

August 2026 has become a particularly grim month for women in Cameroon, with eight femicides recorded in just eight days, according to the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family. The latest incidents raise the national tally to roughly sixty cases since the start of the year, underscoring a persistent pattern of lethal gender‑based violence. Authorities in Yaoundé confirmed the figures, noting that each case involves the intentional killing of a woman, often linked to intimate or family relationships. The ministry’s data reflects ongoing challenges in documenting and prosecuting such crimes, as domestic‑violence complaints in the country seldom result in convictions.

In response, local women’s associations have mobilised to offer legal assistance and psychological counselling to the victims’ families, aiming to fill gaps left by a criminal justice system that rarely secures convictions in domestic‑violence cases. NGOs operating in the capital are coordinating outreach programs, establishing hotlines, and facilitating access to medical and forensic services for survivors and relatives. The concerted effort highlights both the severity of the crisis and the community‑driven attempts to provide support while awaiting broader institutional reforms. Reported from Yaoundé by Indira Ayuk, Richard and Giresse Ngaana.