After 18 years of marriage, woman left with broken bones and swollen face

A woman in Cameroon is in critical condition in the hospital after she engaged in a violent fight with her husband.

The incident occurred in Douala, in the Logpom neighbourhood, on September 6, 2023.

Reports indicate that Ngouadjio Bertrand (the husband) has a misunderstanding with his wife which sources claim is not the first time.

“He has a history of violence against his wife. He has been known to beat her with fists, sticks, and other objects. The couple has been married for over 18 years and have six children together,” said a source who has been keeping taps with happenings around the couple.

“This woman has been going through a lot in her home. I wonder if marriage is an obligation. Every day her husband beats her up, sometimes even in front of their children,” a neigbour said, adding that “She is always in a devastating state after the beatings. We have advised her on many occasions to leave, but she keeps staying in that abusive marriage.”

She has suffered multiple broken bones, internal bleeding, a swollen face, and a head injury.



Bertrand has not been arrested.

Domestic violence is a serious problem in Cameroon. According to a 2019 study by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, one in three women in Cameroon has experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.



Domestic violence is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 15 and 44 in Cameroon. Only 10% of women who experience domestic violence report it to the police.