By Abongwa Fozo
The launch was programmed to coincided with the International Day of Multi-literalism and Diplomacy for Peace on Friday April 25, 2025 and is aimed at promoting “Just and Peaceful Societies” in the Northwest Region. The theme retained for the 2025 edition is “Uniting for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future”
Mr. Fon Nsoh, coordinator of COMINSUD (Community Initiative for Sustainable Development) said the discontent that lead to the crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions still exist but “the manifestations are misdirected” adding that “before the was more attack by non-state armed group on public facilities and state security forces. But today we have more civilians who are suffering from the brunt of the crisis from different forms of armed kind men”
Today he continued, “its the civilians that are suffering more” with many being killed, injured, extorted, kidnapped, arrested and detained unduly. COMINSUD he went further is on the path of a peace building initiative as a way of mitigating the spread of the crisis.
New conflicts he said are arising out of the existing conflict like the one between the Nso and Wimbum communities when the road were not passing not because of any prior problem between them, bandits that are disturbing place in the name of armed fighters, those that are using the crisis to settle scores and many others. “These are new emerging issues that can be addressed within the context of community peace building” he added.
Mr. Fon Nsoh added that the uniqueness of this year’s activities is that COMININSUD is engaging with all stakeholders at once instead of individually like in previous years. This he continue will enable all stake holders to share what they are doing in the project.
The launch brought together representatives of bike riders association, market women, the Bar Cameroon Council, teacher’s trade unions, the media, and councils, administrative, religious and traditional institutions amongst others.
Mr. Djunang Marcellus, representing the Governor of the Northwest was nostalgic about the time before the Anglophone crisis when the region enjoyed relative peace with people leaving far off places like Nkambe to Bamenda at any time, and transport fare very low. He called on all to work toward bringing back the peace highly craved by all in the region. He asked all to “join hands to work for peace” adding “lets carry peace in our hearts, on our lips and exhibit it with our actions”
COMINSUD peace project for 2025 is aimed at ensuring that a wide spectrum of actors from public, community, civil society, faith based institutions and the media work to bring changes that would reduce violence, division, marginalization and various harms faced by the population. These are intended to promote positivity, inclusion, equality, tolerance and non-violence approaches towards a peaceful society.
The end goal of the project is to see community leaders make use of peace building tools and approaches at their reach analyse and manage crisis, seek peace and promote behaviour change to make positive changes for individuals and their communities, increase voices to end the conflict in the northwest and Southwest, promote good governance and to use the media for such promotions and greater engagements.
