09 August 2021
Planned Peace Consultations in Cameroon September 2021
Cameroon – Peace Consultation (Euros 20,025 support from the World Mission Fund)
The Presbyterian Church Cameroon, on behalf of CCPC (Cameroon Council of Protestant Churches) is planning phase 2 of Peace Consultations. Phase 2 is to be hosted by the Ecumenical Forum for Justice and Peace for Cameroon at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in September 2021, to minimise distractions and intimidation from separatists. The representatives of international organisations will act as facilitators of the consultation.
- Purpose (Overall Goal)
To mobilize actors, stakeholders and communities to promote peace and justice that will end the current crisis in Cameroon.
- Participants
10 – 15 influential religious leaders of the Council of Protestant Churches in Cameroon (CPCC/CEPCA), the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon and the Muslim Community in Cameroon will be invited to participate.
- Background
Several months after Phase 1 of the Peace Tour project which ended in November 2020, the Anglophone crisis still rages on, despite significant efforts made by religious leaders after the orientation training in November. Cameroon religious leaders visited all the key towns of Anglophone Cameroon to preach peace, while relating with the government and other international community stakeholders to bring about a lasting solution to the crisis. The public peace caravan started in Buea in 2019 until 2020.
Unfortunately a lack of national leadership on the need for peace and justice led separatists to keep fighting, increasing their attacks, coverage and ammunition with the hope of winning the war one day. The situation has degenerated to the use of small explosives, while bandits, warlords and arms dealers have infiltrated the crisis for selfish gain. Consequently, there has been a drastic rise in banditry, kidnapping, arms proliferation, violence and insecurity especially across Anglophone Cameroon.
With approximately five thousand people reported dead, nearly a million people displaced and more than a hundred villages disserted, the human suffering is vast. Unless intentional measures are taken, the situation will deteriorate as schools remain closed. Youths and children remain vulnerable to increased hunger and lawlessness in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Mission Fund is being used to support this work alongside support from the Global Relationships team. This is in conjunction with support from the World Council of Churches, World Council of Reformed Churches & US Presbyterian Church