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Cameroon: ‘Don’t come with people like that. Don’t bring them here’, said morgue staff
Memorial for Doloresse on Instagram
Human rights activists in Cameroon expressed outrage over last month’s murder of prominent Cameroonian trans woman Dolores (also known as Doloresse) and urged police to bring her killers to justice.
They detailed the degrading treatment that Dolores suffered both before and after her death.
In examining videos taken before and after the murder, they found not only that Dolores was taunted and abused before she was killed but also that public employees insulted her when her body arrived at the morgue.
The statement below, translated from French, was issued by the UNITY Platform, a coalition of Cameronian human right groups, and RITAC (the Independent Trans Network o( Central Africa).
In addition, a statement in English from the U.S.-based African Human Rights Coalition called her “a symbol of resilience, visibility, and resistance in the face of relentless violence and marginalization. Her courage in living openly in an environment that punishes identity inspired countless others and helped inspire a generation of LGBTQI+ advocates and community members.”
Outrage and demand for justice after the murder of transgender woman Dolores, officially Singa Kime Douglas, in Yaoundé, and allegations of degrading treatment of her body.
RITAC and the UNITY Platform express their deep concern following the brutal homicide of transgender woman Dolores, which occurred on May 12, 2026, in the Emombo neighborhood of Yaoundé, following an altercation whose initial circumstances were documented by video recordings that have come into our possession.
Less than 24 hours after the tragedy, another video relating to the dishonorable treatment of the victim’s body was released on May 13, 2026. This video has been reviewed by our team.
I. ELEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE VIDEOS
The elements identified during the analysis of the various video sequences now available tend to raise serious concerns regarding transphobic behavior, targeted physical violence, and degrading treatment based on the victim’s gender identity.
Specifically:
The start of the attack in a public space: The videos showing the beginning of the altercation formally establish the initial context that led to the tragedy. The footage taken inside the facility shows the victim being targeted, subjected to direct physical violence (blows and shoving), as well as humiliation and forced undressing by several individuals.
This sequence highlights a pattern of lynching and relentless harassment that appears directly linked to the victim’s gender expression.
The video shows scenes involving the victim’s body in a space presented as a neutral corridor, not formally identified as a medical or technical area, where people occasionally circulate.
According to the information we have, the body was transported to the morgue of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé after being extracted from the scene of the crime.
The images show the manipulation of the body as well as the unveiling of the deceased’s bodily intimacy in conditions that appear exposed and unprotected.
Audible statements attributed to staff members include, among other things:
“Don’t come with people like that anymore. Don’t bring them here.”
“That’s not a woman’s body, Commissioner, it’s a man dressed as a woman. And it’s here, at the hospital, that we came to discover this.”
“I’m going to see everything in Yaoundé.”
These statements are reproduced exactly as heard in the video under review.
II. HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS
If the observed facts are confirmed, they would constitute serious violations of human dignity, the respect due to the deceased, and the memory of the victim. No gender identity can justify, whether the person is living or deceased, acts of humiliation or violence against them.
These events also raise concerns regarding compliance with the professional, ethical, and code-of-conduct obligations applicable to staff involved in the handling of the deceased.
RITAC and the UNITY Platform further express their concern regarding the overall context of stigmatization that may surround the victim due to her gender identity, and call for an investigation free from any form of bias.
III. APPEAL TO COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
RITAC and the UNITY Platform call upon the competent Cameroonian authorities to take without delay all necessary measures to shed light on the reported facts and establish responsibility.
It is therefore recommended that:
The Public Prosecutor at the Yaoundé High Court: open an investigation into the homicide of Dolores, with a view to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting the alleged perpetrators as well as any person involved in the mistreatment of the body, so that they may be brought to justice in accordance, in particular, with Article 283 of the Penal Code concerning failure to provide assistance.
The judicial police services: collect, preserve, and secure the evidence, as well as analyze the available witness statements and videos.
The Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE): open an administrative inquiry into the conditions under which the body was handled and assess any potential responsibilities.
The Management of Yaoundé Central Hospital: conduct an internal investigation into the facts and the implementation of appropriate measures in accordance with the obligations of dignity and respect for the deceased; the immediate strengthening of protocols relating tothe management of remains and respect for human dignity.
The Human Rights Commission of Cameroon (CDHC): Complete an independent assessment of the allegations and the formulation of public recommendations for the prevention of violations of human dignity.
RITAC and the UNITY Platform encourage the institutions concerned to act with diligently, impartially, and transparently, in strict compliance with their respective competencies.
IV. LEGAL AND NORMATIVE BASIS
The reported facts may fall under the following legal instruments:
Constitution of Cameroon: right to life, protection of human dignity and prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as guarantee of fundamental human rights;
See Also
Cameroonian Penal Code: offenses relating to attacks on life, attacks on the physical and moral integrity of persons, as well as offenses including:
Violation of tombs and corpses (Article 274);
Murder (Article 275);
Assassination (Article 276).
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights:
Article 4: inviolability of the human person and right to life;
Article 5: respect for the inherent dignity of the human person and prohibition of any form of exploitation or degrading treatment.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
Article 6: Inherent right to life, protected by law, and prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of life;
Article 7: Prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment;
Article 17: Protection against arbitrary or unlawful interference with private and family life and dignity;
V. FINAL NOTE
RITAC and the UNITY Platform reiterate that the information contained in this press release is published for documentation and advocacy purposes regarding human rights, subject to the conclusions of ongoing or future judicial and administrative investigations;
This tragedy occurs within a context of increasing insecurity and stigmatization towards gender minorities. Indifference or silence in the face of such acts could be considered a form of tacit complicity, potentially jeopardizing social cohesion and living together peacefully.
RITAC and the UNITY Platform extend their deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Dolores and remain fully committed to ensuring that justice is served.
RITAC and the UNITY Platform remain available to cooperate with the relevant authorities, as needed.
Beyond the pain of this loss, RITAC and the UNITY Platform call upon our collective conscience to uphold the fundamental principles of human rights, the right to life, and the dignity of every citizen in Cameroon. These fundamental values remain guaranteed by national, regional, and international legal instruments to which Cameroon is a party, including the Preamble to the Cameroonian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This online outpouring of grief and protest over the murder of Deloresse states (in French) “Yaoundé in mourning. A sister assassinated. A life cut short by hatred. Never again! To her memory, to those we have lost, to those who still fight, we will not forget, we will no longer be quiet. Stop the hatred. Stop the murders. Stop the impunity. Her only crime: being herself.”
Statement by the African Human Rights Coalition
We extend our deepest condolences to our colleagues, friends, and chosen family in Cameroon as they mourn the devastating loss of Doloresse, a courageous transgender pioneer whose life and legacy will not be forgotten.
Doloresse was a symbol of resilience, visibility, and resistance in the face of relentless violence and marginalization. Her courage in living openly in an environment that punishes identity inspired countless others and helped inspire a generation of LGBTQI+ advocates and community members.
We unequivocally condemn this brutal killing. Doloresse’s murder is not an isolated act of violence; it exists within a broader environment in which LGBTQI+ individuals are systematically targeted, dehumanized, and left unprotected. Laws criminalizing same-sex conduct and gender expression serve as a catalyst for brutality, legitimizing violence and emboldening perpetrators.
The persistence of impunity further entrenches this injustice. When violence against LGBTQI+ individuals is not properly investigated or prosecuted, it sends a clear and dangerous message that such acts are tolerated. This climate of impunity enables continued abuse by both state and non-state actors.
We call on the Cameroonian government to immediately and thoroughly investigate the murder of Doloresse, to hold those responsible accountable, and to take concrete steps to ensure the protection of LGBTQI+ individuals. Justice must not be delayed, and it must not be denied.
We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community in Cameroon. We honor Doloresse’s life, her courage, and her enduring impact. Her legacy compels us to continue the fight for dignity, safety, and human rights for all.
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