Mourning and mockery are Cameroon’s response to murder of gay man
Cameroon’s homophobic commenters are scolded: ‘His death is neither a victory nor a joke.’
By Steeves Winner
Shock, outrage and sadness spread through the LGBTI community of Douala, Cameroon, last week at the news that Paul Gérard, a well-known and well-liked young man, had been murdered.
The killing occurred on the night of Monday, Aug. 11, in the Logpom neighborhood of Douala.
Gérard had invited a friend, Liam Karl to his home that night. In the morning, Gérard’s body was discovered in his bed, lying in a pool of blood.
Karl, the chief suspect in the murder, is being sought by police but has not been apprehended.
Surveillance camera footage shows him leaving the residence around 6 a.m. A forensic examination revealed that the victim had been beaten and strangled.
Karl deactivated his social media accounts and allegedly took several of Gérard’s belongings before leaving his apartment.
Gérard, about 25 years old, lived alone in his apartment. Neighbors and friends in the LGBTI community said he was sociable, discreet, polite and helpful.
In a Facebook post, an unknown organization claimed to offer a reward of 1 million CFA francs (about US $1,784) for information leading to Karl’s arrest.
Karl, who is about 33 years old, was a long-time friend of Gérard, but little else is known about him other than being a member of Douala’s LGBTI community.
Gérard’s murder sparked mixed reactions on social media, ranging from compassion to snide homophobia. For example:
“I never imagined seeing the name of a former classmate associated with such a tragic affair… My thoughts are with the victim, his family, and all those affected by this tragedy. May justice be served.”
“Before talking about ‘the story of a gay man,’ remember that he was first and foremost a human being… Paul was a son, a brother, a friend. His death is neither a victory nor a joke.”
“You almost feel sorry for him, but what are two men even doing in a closed room at night?!”
“It’s a case of [derogatory anti-gay slang omitted[.”
A widely shared anonymous online text labeled a “reaction from Cameroonians” criticized homophobic people who took pleasure in the murder:
“What I see this morning on social media is revolting and deeply dehumanizing. A person has been killed. Yet, some are mocking him, making ironic comments, and seem almost to rejoice in his death because he was gay. Let us remember: the criminalization of certain same-sex relationships in Cameroon does not suspend the fundamental rights of homosexual people. It does not give anyone the right to humiliate them, assault them, or violate their lives and dignity.”
This statement, in turn, was greeted with a new round of ironic and homophobic comments.
Ebenezer Munkan, a human rights defender, urged Cameroonian authorities to undertake comprehensive investigations of both Gérard’s murder and the May 2026 murder of trans woman Doloresse (Jonas Singa Kimie) in Emombo section of Yaoundé.
He wrote, “A Cameroonian citizen remains a Cameroonian citizen, LGBTQ+ or not. Paul Gérard and Jonas Singa Kimie deserve justice. Every Cameroonian citizen deserves protection.”
He called on the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Territorial Administration, the Minister of Defense, the Delegate General for National Security, as well as the Attorneys General of the Littoral and Central regions, demanding that the investigations be carried out to their conclusion and that those responsible be held accountable.
The author’s viewpoint:
This murder highlights the vulnerability of LGBTI people in Cameroon, where homosexuality remains criminalized under Article 347-1 of the Penal Code. Violence, whether physical or symbolic, is on the rise in a climate of impunity. Local human rights organizations are calling for a thorough investigation and effective protection of sexual and gender minorities.
Steeves Winner, the author of this article, is a Cameroonian journalist who writes under a pseudonym. Contact him at steeves.w@yahoo.com.
