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Yas lives under constant fear since her attack in Cameroon
Homeless transgender woman Yas lying on her makeshift bed in Douala, Cameroon.
By Steeves Winner
Yas—a homeless transgender woman in Douala, Cameroon—lives under the constant threat of violence and stigmatization. Yas was recently the victim of an attempted assault orchestrated by a group of men in her neighborhood.
It all began with a phone call from a stranger who introduced himself as a “long-time friend,” she says. After insisting on meeting her, the man eventually showed up in person, accompanied by two other individuals. The situation quickly escalated: the three men attempted to publicly confront her, with one of them going so far as to loudly question her gender identity in front of local residents. Their intention was clear: to incite a collective reaction and expose her to public outrage.
While the two accomplices attempted to intimidate and unsettle her, Yas was shoved and dragged along the ground, narrowly escaping an attempt to forcibly strip her. She emerged with only scratches, but—more significantly—with deep anxiety regarding her future safety.
“The worst is still here. The fear is still here,” she says, describing a climate of persistent harassment that includes relentless messaging on social media.
This assault highlights the vulnerability of trans individuals in Cameroon, who are exposed to physical violence, public humiliation, and constant suspicion within their immediate surroundings. It also draws attention to the lack of intervention from witnesses, who chose to stand by despite the screaming and the accusations being leveled against her.
76Crimes has previously reported on Yas’ struggles to find shelter and health care after being rejected by her family, and amid the dwindling international support for services for LGBTQI people.
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In Cameroon, transgender people are often prosecuted under laws that criminalize homosexuality.
Yas’s case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen protection mechanisms for sexual and gender minorities in the country, as well as the necessity of providing psychosocial and legal support to victims. In a context where stigmatization is institutionalized and attacks are on the rise, every testimony serves as further proof of the daily reality faced by LGBTQI+ activists in Cameroon.
Steeves Winner, the author of this article, is a Cameroonian journalist who writes under a pseudonym. Contact him at steeves.w@yahoo.com.
