'Silence is complicity' - top footballer hits out over Cameroon femicides

What the report says

BBC Africa reports that outrage is growing in Cameroon after at least eight women were killed within a week, adding to concerns about a wider rise in femicides. The killings have prompted public calls for stronger protection for women and girls, including from prominent footballer Nchout Njoya Ajara, who said that staying silent in the face of the violence amounts to complicity.

The article says the latest case happened in Yaoundé, where a 44-year-old woman was found dead in a hotel room on Tuesday and a 22-year-old suspect was later arrested. BBC Africa notes that many of the reported cases are linked to domestic violence, and that official figures cited in the report show at least 50 women were killed between January and April this year, compared with 77 in the previous year.

Ajara, one of Cameroon’s best-known female players, used her platform to press for an end to what she described as a tragic wave of attacks on women. The striker, who plays for Saudi club Al Qadish and has had a career in several European leagues, said women in Cameroon should not have to live in fear. Her comments added pressure on authorities already facing criticism from campaigners and opposition voices.

BBC Africa also reports that the government has acknowledged concern about the trend and says it is working on a bill aimed at protecting women from gender-based violence. However, civil society groups and women’s rights advocates remain skeptical about how quickly such measures will become law, underscoring broader frustration over official action on femicide.