The murderous reality Cameroonian women live with!.

According to the report, the husband, in his forties, and the wife, in her thirties, were sharing a meal when he complained that his own slice of meat was too small.

A heated altercation ensued and he reportedly struck her with a club. She collapsed and died instantly. The husband was arrested and charged.

It is just one of the numerous gory incidents where in the first two months of this year, there have already been 26 cases of femicide in the country.

Cameroonian women celebrated their day throughout the country. In Yaounde, the epic centre of the fiesta, women matched past in uniforms of assorted designs; and printed for the purpose, with little emphasis on the year's theme that focuses on rights, justice, empowerment, including fitness sessions and skill training. 

After the parades and even before, boozing sessions, often associated with deviant behaviours of drunkenness attracted headlines. 

Ironically, the crucial issue, homicide, was ignored but for a statement by Prof Maurice Kamto, leader of the MRC opposition political party.

He disclosed that "over the past three years, from 2023 to the beginning of March 2026, data collected in our country shows 212 cases of female homicides resulting from various acts of violence, including 42 cases in 2023, 77 in 2024, and 67 in 2025".

The trend is not linear, but it is undeniably upward as in January and February this year, "there have already been 26 cases". Who knows what the number will be in the next 10 months?

Kamto noted that "faced with this tragedy in our society, which brings shame upon Cameroon, a country that has become dangerous for women, certain organisations and women's rights, advocates have risen up to denounce these horrors, raise awareness among the population, and provide assistance to the victims as best they can".

He added that: "We commend them and stand with them in the fight against cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and all other forms of violence, particularly physical violence, which often results in the death of women victims or lifelong mutilation”. 

He added that: “The celebration of the 41st International Women's Day gives us, collectively as a nation, an opportunity to reflect on this subject. This is not just a matter for women alone. Every Cameroonian citizen is directly challenged on our attitude towards this divine entity, the creator of life. Beyond the traditional fabrics and the festive atmosphere to which March 8, which was well-intentioned, has unfortunately been reduced, it is women as bearers of life, cornerstones of the family, and multifaceted social actors who we must consider".

Kamto explained that they "are not meant to replace them, and do not ask to do so. She wants to live and must live to steer the ship of life and the building of our nation alongside him".

The government is, however, not "looking the other way" as Prof Kamto stated. Advocacy and consensus on ending feminicide in Cameroon has been promoted by the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA, as a lead agency working to respond to and reduce gender-based violence.

It supports the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family in humanitarian and development settings. As such, the organisation has boasted of "contributing to strengthening national policies; accountability, and normative frameworks, including laws on gender-based violence".

The UNFPA also works extensively in collecting data and generating evidence to understand the prevalence, incidence and impact of gender-based violence in Cameroon.

In 2023, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, MINPROFF, and its partners chose to ponder on the issue of femicides in Cameroon; in a context where close to 30 women had been murdered in the space of three months over the national territory. The 30 victims were mostly killed by their spouses or partners. 

“We are fighting these barbaric acts with all our might and the perpetrators must be punished,” said Prof Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family.

It is no doubt a serious matter that husbands, who should love their wives, have become their murderers and the number is soaring. This should have been the front burner at the 41st International Women's Day. 

But if you ask any of them about their take home message, it is likely going to be on the fabric - the exorbitant cost.

We rephrase the question again, "the 2026 International Women's Day is over, what next?". The Ministry of Woman Empowerment should provide an answer. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3727 of Tuesday March 10, 2026