Cameroonian woman dies in desert en route to Europe

By Daniel D.

A video has surfaced online, showing the burial of a Cameroonian woman who purportedly died in the Sahara desert while trying to reach Europe to look for greener pastures.

The woman, whose name MMI got Emmanuela, was a businesswoman in Douala, the commercial capital of Cameroon.

In the video, men are seen burying her in the same dress she wore for the journey. They spoke predominantly in French and expressed frustration that she had no identification on her. Emmanuela reportedly died while crossing the Sahara desert in Tunisia.

She is reported to have used all her savings from her business to seek greener pastures abroad, but met a tragic fate.

She is among thousands of Cameroonians and other Africans who have perished during attempts to snuggle themselves into Europe in search of better economic opportunities.

Two months ago, the French media outlet, Le Monde, reported on Cameroonian migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Europe.

This tragic incident comes as President Paul Biya urges citizens to remain in Cameroon and engage in agriculture and entrepreneurial ventures.

Despite these appeals, the exodus continues. Between December 2023 and February 2024, over 6,000 Cameroonians reportedly left the country seeking better lives in the West.

Emmanuela’s death highlights the harsh realities and dangers faced by many Cameroonians trying to escape poverty, unemployment, and the high cost of living in their homeland.

©Mimi Mefo Info