Cameroon faces rising femicide rates and calls for policy action

A surge in violence against women has been reported in Cameroon, with investigations and local activists highlighting a significant number of killings. An MMI News review found that at least 26 women and girls were killed or died under suspicious circumstances between August 1 and September 11, 2026. Victims included a three-year-old child and various women killed in homes, on roads, or in hotels. Many of these deaths were linked to intimate partners, robberies, or suspected sexual attacks.

In Yaoundé, a roundtable organized by Dr. Soundjock-Massé Flavie addressed the rising trend of femicide. Data presented during the meeting indicated that 60 femicides had already been recorded in 2026, following 77 cases in 2025 and 56 in 2023. One particularly violent period was noted between August 17 and August 27, 2026, when over 25 women were killed, often following their refusal of advances from men.

In response, a partnership has been established between the Centre Médical Sainte-Mélanie and Cabinet Miyondo to provide medical and legal support to victims of gender-based violence. Organizers intend to submit a report to government ministries to urge that femicide be treated as a national public policy priority rather than mere incidental news.