By Guy Feugap, African Organizer, World BEYOND War, March 14, 2025
On February 25, 2025, the Cameroon chapter of World BEYOND War wrote to the Prime Minister, Head of the Government of Cameroon, regarding the recent regional peace conference “Imagine Africa Beyond War,” which was held virtually on November 15 and 16, 2024.
For the information of the Head of Government, it was noted that the regional peace conference in Africa opened discussions on wars and war-driven factors that prevent the African continent from envisioning lasting peace and explored the possibilities of imagining what Africa really is beyond war, presenting the perspectives of activists from the continent who challenge the structural causes of wars. Millions of people die in Africa, others are displaced because of wars. Cameroon currently faces armed confrontations on at least two fronts, the Far North with Boko Haram and the North-West and South-West regions with the separatist threat. This situation has bereaved many families and separated others, creating tensions and new conflict dynamics in other regions.
The members of the Cameroon chapter of World BEYOND War expressed to the Head of Government their deep concern about the human cost of these conflicts, the social, economic, and environmental impacts of this situation that persists and seriously compromises the country’s chances of aspiring to a peaceful future.
In response to the letter from the Cameroon Chapter of World BEYOND War, the Prime Minister, through his service, granted an audience to the Chapter and its associative partner WILPF Cameroon on March 10, 2025. The Africa Organizer also took part in this meeting. During the exchange, we talked about our learning from the African peace conference in relation to the context of Cameroon and presented in the form of recommendations the five conditions that we find essential to bring peace.
The document handed over to the Prime Minister’s Office is here in English and in French. Here are the 5 essential conditions to bring peace to Cameroon:
FOR THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS
1. Initiate the process of a new national, frank, and inclusive dialogue. Negotiate and obtain a ceasefire, and create a climate of trust conducive to a general calm, in which all factions and stakeholders in the conflicts can express themselves freely without fear of reprisals, take appeasement measures including general amnesty for prisoners of various socio-political crises.
2. Make the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 NAP a national priority. Issue an order establishing a national coordination committee, including relevant civil society actors, to ensure the localization of this plan in all municipalities of Cameroon.
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE BEFORE THE OCTOBER 2025 ELECTIONS
3. Punish hate and tribal speech in the public space, including in the media and on social networks, in accordance with the law; condemn any action likely to tarnish the electoral process, whether it comes from political actors or government members.
4. In the interest of preserving peace and following the strong demand of multiple actors, urgently proceed with a consensual revision of the Electoral Code, which is so far a factor of conflict and political tensions and a cause of division among Cameroonians.
FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF PEACEFUL COHESION BETWEEN COMMUNITIES
5. Adopt urgent measures to ensure the protection of internally displaced persons and healthy coexistence with host communities. It is imperative to establish a national humanitarian response, taking into account the needs of internally displaced persons and the requirements of host communities, including legal assistance, emergency food assistance, shelter construction, listening, and psychological support.
