**Title: Outrage Grows in Cameroon Over Rising Femicides as Football Star Speaks Out**
**By: Paul Njie, Reporting from Yaoundé**
**Published: 27 August 2026, 12:46 BST**
**Updated: 18 minutes ago**
The recent surge in femicides in Cameroon, with at least eight women reportedly killed within a single week, has ignited widespread outrage across the nation. Prominent figures, including renowned footballer Nchout Njoya Ajara, are calling for urgent government action to protect women and girls from escalating violence.
Nchout Njoya Ajara, a celebrated athlete known for her professional career spanning multiple countries, including Russia, Sweden, and Spain, emphasized the severity of the situation. "Being a woman in Cameroon should never be a risk," Ajara stated, highlighting the alarming trend of violence against women. The 33-year-old striker, who has played for notable clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan, described the current wave of femicides as a "tragic wave" and asserted that "silence is complicity."
Official data indicates a troubling increase in femicides, with approximately 50 women reported killed between January and April of this year, compared to 77 in the entirety of the previous year. The latest incident occurred in Yaoundé, where a 44-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by a 22-year-old male suspect, who has since been apprehended.
The government has expressed concern regarding the rise in violence against women. Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, the Minister for Women's Empowerment and the Family, condemned the "worrying" trend and mentioned that the government is actively working on addressing the issue. She noted that a bill aimed at protecting women from gender-based violence is currently under review by the prime minister.
However, civil society organizations and women's rights advocates have criticized the government's response, arguing that there has been a lack of urgency in enacting protective legislation. Viviane Tathi, a representative from an organization that documents femicide cases, voiced skepticism about the bill's prospects for passage during the upcoming parliamentary session in November, which is expected to focus primarily on budgetary discussions. "We are worried because the November parliamentary session focuses on budgetary debates… So, we don't know by what magic this bill will be passed," Tathi remarked.
The opposition party, Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), has also condemned the government's perceived inaction, labeling the situation as a "tragic recurrence of domestic femicides." Reports indicate that many of the femicide cases in Cameroon are linked to domestic violence, raising concerns about the safety of women in their own homes.
As the nation grapples with this crisis, calls for the establishment of specialized courts to handle domestic violence cases have emerged. Advocates argue that such measures are essential to effectively address the root causes of femicide and provide justice for victims.
The growing outcry from both the public and influential figures like Ajara underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action to combat gender-based violence in Cameroon. As the government prepares to address the issue, many citizens remain hopeful for meaningful reforms that will protect women and ensure their safety in society.