The Belka Tobis affair, which has recently surfaced, highlights the precariousness of women in informal partnerships in Cameroon and elsewhere. This case concerns a woman who dedicated thirty years of her life to a man and his family, without a marriage contract or legal protection. Now ill and vulnerable, she has allegedly been subjected to violence, humiliation, and eviction, according to her lawyer, Dominique Fousse.
Belka Tobis, a Cameroonian artist, finds himself at the center of controversy after a video was released showing him in an altercation with his long-time partner. Beyond this incident, it is the legal and social situation of the partner, who remained in the shadows for three decades, that is brought to light. Me Dominique Fousse denounces an exploitation of her client's loyalty and an unjustified enrichment to her detriment. The lawyer emphasizes Mrs. Belka Tobis' investment in the home, the education of the children, and the support of her spouse, without legal recognition.
The case raises fundamental questions about the protection of de facto partners and the recognition of the invisible work done within the home. In the absence of civil marriage, these women find themselves without rights in the event of separation or death, their contribution being ignored by the law.
Me Fousse is pleading for legal recognition of the value of these years of cohabitation and for better protection of de facto partners. She points out that domestic violence should not be less punished on the pretext of the absence of marriage. The case could set a precedent if the courts recognize the rights of Mrs. Belka Tobis, thus paving the way for increased protection for people living in informal partnerships.
Beyond the individual case, this affair raises questions about the need to rethink the law to protect those who build their lives outside the traditional framework of marriage. The question of automating certain rights after a certain period of cohabitation is also raised.
The Belka Tobis case highlights the shortcomings of the Cameroonian legal system in protecting de facto partners. It raises questions about the place of women in non-formalized unions and the legal vulnerability of those who invest without guarantees.
In the meantime, Mrs. Belka Tobis' struggle resonates as a call for dignity for all those who have loved without a contract and who are growing old without security. The Cameroonian justice system is being challenged, with some observers believing that the case should have been settled in court rather than on social media.
