The shockwave caused by the murder of young Divine Mbarga continues to shake Cameroon. Faced with this tragedy, writer Djaïli Amadou Amal, a leading figure in the fight against violence against women and children, broke the silence to express her outrage and point out the societal excesses revealed by this crime.
In a poignant statement, the author of "Munyal, the Tears of Patience" does not simply denounce a news item. For her, the Divine Mbarga affair is a symptom of the trivialization of violence and a growing indifference to the suffering of the most vulnerable. "What happened is beyond comprehension. In my opinion, the height of horror: the trivialization of violence and our own suffering," she writes, highlighting the atrocity of a child calling for help in the night without anyone intervening.
Djaïli Amadou Amal highlights the collective indifference that allowed such a tragedy to occur. She denounces a society where some even dare to blame the victim, thus exposing a worrying moral drift. "The murder of Divine Mbarga is not just a tragedy. It is a mirror. Tragic. The brutal reflection of our collective indifference," she says forcefully.
The writer also questions the safety of children, wondering about the places and trusted people with whom they could be protected. "Where are our children still safe? In our homes? At school? In our neighborhoods? Who can we still leave them with?" she asks, expressing a mother's anguish in the face of a world that seems to be becoming hostile to innocence.
Faced with this horror, Djaïli Amadou Amal calls for collective awareness and a profound questioning of our values. She urges society to ask itself the "real questions" and to offer victims, such as Divine Mbarga, a response that matches their suffering. "What we owe them today is not just tears. It is awareness and exemplary justice," she insists.
The Divine Mbarga affair has revived the debate on child protection and the fight against violence against minors in Cameroon. Investigations are continuing to shed light on this heinous crime and bring those responsible to justice. In the meantime, the voice of Djaïli Amadou Amal resonates as an urgent call for collective responsibility, reminding us that the safety and well-being of children is everyone's business.
Beyond emotion and outrage, a profound questioning of our values and our ability to protect the most vulnerable is now necessary.
