Peacebuilding Is Everyone’s Responsibility: CHRDA Panel Discussions Promote Dialogue and Non-Violent Conflict Resolution in Cameroon
Peacebuilding is not the responsibility of governments, community leaders, religious institutions or civil society organisations alone. It is a collective responsibility that requires the participation of every individual and community.
This message emerged strongly from a two-day panel discussion series organised by the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), bringing together peace actors, community leaders, journalists, humanitarian professionals, youth advocates and conflict-resolution practitioners to explore practical approaches to strengthening peace and social cohesion in Cameroon.
Traditional, Religious and Community Leaders as Peace Actors
The first day focused on the theme “Traditional, Religious and Community Leaders as Peace Actors”, creating a platform for participants to examine how influential community actors can contribute to dialogue, mediation, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
The session opened with remarks from CHRDA Executive Director Madam Futih Laura, who underscored the importance of strengthening peace and social cohesion. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Agbor Desmond.
The distinguished panel featured Barr. Nkongho Felix, Dr. Yimbu Emmanuel, Dr. Jude Mutah and Rev. Nsandah Premouse.
In his keynote intervention, Dr. Jude Mutah challenged participants to reflect on the human cost of prolonged conflict and the urgency of collective action.
He posed critical questions about how many more lives and communities must be lost before meaningful peace becomes a reality, and what individuals and institutions are prepared to do differently to achieve lasting peace.
According to Dr. Mutah, peace should not simply be understood as the absence of violence or silence. Genuine peace should allow people to return to their communities and villages without fear.
He identified truth-telling, sustained dialogue, meaningful engagement with the private sector and diaspora, and everyday peacebuilding practices as important components of sustainable peace.
Dr. Yimbu Emmanuel highlighted the pivotal role of traditional rulers in mediation, conflict prevention and community stability, while Barr. Nkongho Felix stressed that peacebuilding requires both top-down and bottom-up approaches.
Rev. Nsandah Premouse emphasised truth, unity and appropriate training for religious leaders, noting that faith leaders have an important role to play in promoting peaceful coexistence and reconciliation.
The discussions reinforced a simple but powerful message: peace begins with us.
It begins in homes, communities, institutions and in the choices individuals make every day.
Day Two: Promoting Dialogue and Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
The second day, held on 13 August 2026, focused on “Strategies for Dialogue, Mediation and Non-Violent Conflict Resolution.”
The session brought together 34 participants, including 15 males and 19 females, for practical discussions on how communities and institutions can address disputes without resorting to violence.
The panel brought together professionals with diverse experiences in journalism, humanitarian response, community leadership, youth advocacy and peacebuilding.
Understanding Conflict Before Communicating
Mr. Tarhyang Enowbikah, a journalist, development communicator and media executive, emphasised the importance of understanding the history and context of a conflict before communicating about it.
He highlighted non-violent communication as an important tool for preventing conflicts from escalating and pointed to mechanisms such as open letters and petitions as peaceful avenues for dialogue and advocacy.
He also stressed the importance of culture in peacebuilding.
Using Culture and Local Traditions
Mr. Tobin Thomas, a humanitarian professional specialising in access, safety and security, highlighted the role of culture and tradition in strengthening peace.
He called for greater use of local cultural practices in peace initiatives and encouraged peace actors to take peace campaigns and sensitisation activities directly to communities.
He also reflected on the growing influence of social media on community relations and conflict dynamics.
Dialogue, Empathy and Mutual Respect
Community leader and conflict-resolution expert Dr. Enowsoun Konrad called for stronger dialogue between communities.
He warned against perceptions of superiority between communities and encouraged people to reject hate speech, cultivate empathy, understand different perspectives and respect one another.
For Dr. Konrad, peaceful coexistence requires communities to recognise their shared humanity while constructively addressing their differences.
Youth Must Be at the Centre of Peacebuilding
Mr. Clinton Cho, a youth and social-cohesion advocate, noted that conflict may not always be avoidable, but individuals and communities can choose peaceful responses rather than violence.
He called for stronger cooperation between government, civil society organisations and local communities.
He also identified youth unemployment as one of the factors contributing to conflict in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West Regions, underscoring the need to address the socioeconomic conditions affecting young people.
Strengthening Civil Society and Community Capacity
Mr. Ngwana Eclador, a peacebuilding and community-development practitioner, highlighted the role of civil society organisations and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) initiatives in promoting dialogue and reconciliation.
He called for greater cooperation among civil society organisations to increase the collective impact of peacebuilding interventions.
He also recommended strengthening community capacity so that local populations can identify problems, develop solutions and participate meaningfully in resolving conflicts affecting them.
Key Recommendations
The panel discussions generated several recommendations aimed at strengthening peacebuilding efforts in Cameroon:
- Meaningfully involve young people in all aspects of peacebuilding, recognising that they are both affected by and, in some contexts, involved in conflicts.
- Identify and train key community stakeholders to equip them with the skills required to manage conflicts before formal dialogue begins.
- Create safe and neutral spaces for dialogue, extending from local communities to national-level platforms.
- Strengthen collaboration among peacebuilding actors to maximise resources, expertise and impact.
- Promote reconciliation, humility, synergy and social cohesion across communities.
- Reject hate speech and divisive narratives while encouraging peaceful discussion of differences.
- Improve coordination among peacebuilders so that peacebuilding initiatives become broader, stronger and more resilient.
Peace Is a Daily Choice
Beyond the panel discussions, participants were reminded that peacebuilding is not only about high-level negotiations or formal peace processes.
It is also about everyday choices.
Individuals can contribute to peace by promoting mutual respect, rejecting harmful information, challenging misinformation, using social media responsibly and treating others with dignity and compassion.
The message is particularly relevant in communities affected by prolonged violence and social division, where rebuilding trust requires sustained engagement at both the community and institutional levels.
Peace is not simply the absence of war. It is the presence of justice, dignity, dialogue, trust, inclusion and the freedom to live without fear.
As the two-day discussions demonstrated, achieving such peace requires everyone to play a role.
Peace begins with us. Choose peace. Promote peace. Practice peace.
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By Cajetan Berinyuy | August 15, 2026
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
