On October 2, 2026, Cameroon embarked on a groundbreaking national dialogue aimed at addressing the alarming surge in femicides and promoting family stability. The initiative, titled "Ending Femicide and Rebuilding a Family and Cameroonian Identity: An Inclusive Dialogue," was launched in Yaounde by the Coffee, Think, Talk and Act (CTT-A) under the auspices of Africa Lobby and the "Give Back to Mama Movement." This comprehensive dialogue brings together civil society actors, traditional rulers, legal experts, and state institutions to move beyond reactive measures toward structural prevention, survivor protection, and institutional accountability.
The dialogue's founder and president of Africa Lobby, Mr. Nfinyo T. Mabu, emphasized that resolving the femicide crisis requires a deep examination of systemic societal fractures. He stressed that men, who constitute the majority of perpetrators, must be integral to the solution. The initiative seeks to understand, prevent, transform, and ultimately save lives by fostering an inclusive conversation that involves men, women, and society as a whole. Mabu noted that the objective is not to assign collective blame but to collaboratively address the devastating proportions of violence against women.
His Majesty Prof. Guy Tsala Ndzomo, President of the National Council of Traditional Chiefs of Cameroon (CNCTC), delivered the inaugural address, contextualizing the rise in femicides as part of a broader moral and social decline. He pointed to the breakdown of traditional communal values and emphasized that addressing violence against women requires a holistic examination of how families and communities function today. The traditional leader called on all segments of society, including traditional custodians, to evaluate the root causes behind escalating violence and assist in re-establishing protective community structures.
The role of local governments in curbing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was underscored by Mr. Tanyitiku Enochachuo Bayee, Director General of the National School of Local Administration (NASLA), Buea. He highlighted that frontline response begins in local councils and outlined NASLA's efforts to integrate gender modules and early-warning GBV identification into its training curricula for regional and municipal authorities. Bayee asserted that addressing GBV requires a square and collective approach, emphasizing that the initiative's success will be measured by a significant drop in such violence over the next three to five years.
The international dimension of the crisis was highlighted by Mr. Samuel Ervé Mandeng, Founder/President of "Give Back To Mama," who represented the Cameroonian diaspora. He noted that family identity strains and domestic violence severely impact diaspora communities abroad, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to address the issue. The involvement of the diaspora in the dialogue underscores the global nature of the problem and the necessity for collaborative solutions.
The national dialogue is structured to facilitate a multi-sectoral approach, engaging various stakeholders in the conversation. This includes traditional rulers, civil society actors, legal experts, and state institutions, all working together to address the complex and deeply rooted issues surrounding femicide and family stability. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the initiative aims to develop comprehensive strategies for prevention, protection, and accountability.
Key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives, have expressed their commitment to the initiative, recognizing the urgency and complexity of addressing femicide and family stability in Cameroon. The national dialogue is seen as a critical step toward fostering a societal shift in attitudes and behaviors, ultimately contributing to a safer and more equitable environment for all citizens.
Key points
- The national dialogue aims to move beyond reactive measures toward structural prevention, survivor protection, and institutional accountability.
- The initiative emphasizes the importance of involving men in the solution to femicide, recognizing that they constitute the majority of perpetrators.
- The dialogue seeks to address the breakdown of traditional communal values and re-establish protective community structures to prevent violence against women.
