Cameroon: Beating Wives is a Crime – Jean de Dieu Momo Warns

BUEA, PAV – Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice, Jean de Dieu Momo, has warned that husbands who assault their wives can be arrested and imprisoned, insisting that no law gives men the right to beat or “discipline” their partners.

In a statement issued as concern over femicide continues to grow, Jean de Dieu Momo said domestic violence was a criminal matter and that marriage did not give husbands legal authority to physically punish their wives.

“No husband has the right to beat his wife,” the minister said, adding that there was no provision in Cameroonian law recognising a husband’s supposed right to discipline his spouse.

Momo also urged men to understand that violence against their partners could result in criminal prosecution and imprisonment. His intervention comes amid concern over killings and other forms of violence against women across Cameroon.

Cameroonian civil society organisations recorded 53 cases of femicide between 1 January and 29 July 2026, according to figures cited in the debate over gender-based violence.

The minister also addressed the responsibility of people who witness domestic violence. He said neighbours had not only the right but a legal responsibility to report cases of violence they witnessed, warning that failure to assist a person in danger could itself result in prosecution.

Momo’s warning has been welcomed as a strong statement against domestic violence, but it also raises questions about how effectively such commitments are being enforced.

Reports of domestic abuse can be particularly difficult to document in rural communities, where victims may face social pressure, economic dependence, fear of retaliation or limited access to police and judicial services.

The challenge is therefore likely to extend beyond declaring that violence is illegal to ensuring that victims can safely report abuse and that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted.

The minister’s statement comes as several domestic violence cases continue to draw public attention and as women’s rights organisations demand stronger action to prevent killings. For campaigners, the issue is whether official warnings will translate into consistent arrests, prosecutions and protection for victims.