An online petition launched on April 2 is demanding the dismissal of Judge Medou Dany L’Or for what many describe as a “lenient punishment” given to Bekobe Éric, who killed his wife Diane Yangwo in a domestic violence incident.
The petition, which is targeting 15,000 signatures, was launched by Dr. A. Carole Grace Mbarga, a Cameroonian-born human rights advocate and social activist based in Washington, D.C., USA.
As of April 3, over 13,000 people had signed the petition.
The petition particularly demands Judge Medou Dany L’Or’s dismissal, citing what many see as a miscarriage of justice despite overwhelming evidence.
“Judge Medou Dany L’Or who presided over this tragic case should be dismissed,” the petition reads.
“Her handling of this case with an admission of guilt from Diane’s murderer, testimonies from several eyewitnesses, as well as the medical examiner’s report on her autopsy (clearly indicating her cause of death), is totally unacceptable.
“Judge Medou’s sentence of condemning Diane Yangwo’s murderer (her husband) to a mere fine of 52,000 FCFA ($82 USD) and 5 years imprisonment on a “suspended sentence” is an insult to women’s fundamental human rights and a violation of their dignity! This lenient punishment is disgraceful and disrespectful, especially considering the severity of the crime,” the petition further states.
It further condemns the sentence as a “lenient punishment” that “not only mocks justice, but also amplifies the severe systemic issues that continue to endorse violence against women”.
Public Outrage Over Sentencing of Diane Yangwo’s Husband
Diane Yangwo’s case is yet another tragic example of the rising domestic violence crisis in Cameroon.
The language teacher at Government Bilingual High School Ndogpassi, Douala, and mother of three died at the hospital days after her husband severely beat her on November 18, 2023. The incident sparked widespread media attention and sympathies from Cameroonians, promoting gendarmes to arrest the husband.
During his trial, Mr Bekobe Éric admitted to the crime, but on April 1, 2025, the judge handed him a five-year suspended sentence and a fine of 52,000 FCFA ($82 USD)—a punishment many consider shockingly lenient for such a severe crime.
The verdict has fueled a wave of online criticism, with many people sympathizing with the murdered woman and demanding justice.
Growing Concerns Over Gender-Based Violence in Cameroon
Petitioners argue that such light sentences could encourage more cases of domestic violence, a growing issue in Cameroon.
According to state media CRTV, by June 2023, over 30 women had died from gender-based violence (GBV) in Cameroon.
By 2024, the situation worsened, with 67 women recorded as dying from GBV.
Despite government efforts to combat gender-based violence, many believe they fall short.
The government has set up gender desks in gendarmaries and police posts to handle GBV cases; and has provided a national helpline (116) to assist women and children facing abuse.
However, Dr. Grace Mbarga insists that harsher penalties and stronger legal frameworks are vital to combat femicide and domestic violence.
“It is time that we take severe action to prevent feminicide and all forms of violence against women in Cameroon. We urge the Cameroonian government to reassess penalties for such heinous crimes and work towards a safer, equitable society,” she wrote in the petition.
