Trans woman attacked again in Cameroon

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

The advocacy group Camfaids (the Cameroonian Foundation for AIDS) today reported a new attack against a trans woman in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Over the past few years, she has been repeatedly beaten, arrested, jailed and released. (See related stories below.)

This is a translation of today’s Camfaids report:

Delores montre l'une des blessures qu'elle a subies le 19 janvier à les mains d'une foule homophobe. (Photo de CAMFAIDS) — Delores displays one of the injuries she suffered on Jan. 19 at the hands of a homophobic mob. (Photo by Camfaids)

A trans woman was attacked in Yaoundé, Cameroon, at the location known as Avenue Germaine Crossroads on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at around 4 a.m. by a group of 15 people armed with stones and clubs.

The head of the legal team of Camfaids met with the victim, who is named Dolores (legal name Jonas Singa Kimie). She says:

“It was about 4 am, this Monday, January 19, 2015, when I was returning from a night out with friends to the house in the Fouda-Yaoundé neighborhood. Waiting for a taxi at the Avenue Germaine Crossroads, I was challenged by a young man of about 30 years. I ignored him, but he approached me and insulted me (“fag,” “dirty faggot,” “what sex are you?” “show me your sex”). Suddenly I felt a blow to my face. I tried to defend myself. Ten of his accomplices rushed up. I was hit forcefully with pieces of rock, clubs and other things, as if I were a common thug.

“I was also stripped of my cell phone, my jewelry and shoes as well as in the amount of 46,000 CFA (about US $ 81 or 71 euros). Thanks to the intervention of a well-dressed passerby who fired many shots into the air.

“I suffered several injuries, a swollen eye and a dislocated right leg.” (See photo.)

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After learning about this unfortunate events, we at CAMFAIDS gave the victim shelter, provided medical and psychological care (exams, wound dressing, medication and administration of vaccines) to enable her to recover from her injuries and return to health.

This is another very unfortunate demonstration of the type of violence that is perpetrated against LGBTI people in Cameroon.

– Jean Jacques Dissoke, leader of the human rights section of Camfaids