NGO talks youth, women out of violent extremism

A local NGO has urged Young people and women to shun violent extremism and work for peace in Cameroon, as insecurity perpetrated by the Nigerian Islamic sect Boko Haram persists.

According to Christelle Bay Chongwain, director of Hope for the Needy Association Cameroon (HOFNA) growing insecurity in the country called for “for unity, determination, patriotism, and collective efforts”,

She was speaking at a national forum on youths, women, peace and security in Bamenda.

HOFNA organized the forum in collaboration with the US embassy in Yaounde under the theme Youth, women and civil society leaders from across the country attended the forum, which had “Enhancing Multicultural Dialogue For Peace and Security in Cameroon”.

“Multicultural dialogue represents an ideal approach and response as it calls for all to continue engaging in meaningful exchanges in the face of differences in religion, political, social or gender related,” Chongwain said.

Young people are often lured into violent extremism with lies and rumours propagated via social media, said the governor of the North West, Adolph Lele Lafrique.

According to the governor, economic development is impossible without peace and security reason why young people must make their voices heard through the maintenance of peace.

Remarking on US support to the fight against terrorism in Cameroon, Lafrique said: “I appreciate greatly, the shared vision of peace and economic security between the two countries with the inclusion of the youths in the fight”.

On behalf of the ambassador of the United States Of America to Cameroon H.E Michael Stephen Hoza, the deputy chief of missions (DCM) at the U.S embassy-yaounde expressed the determination of his home country in the fight against insecurity and terrorism.

“We are together in the fight to counter violence, terrorism and extremism in this country. The United states government wants to partner with patriotic civil society organizations like HOFNA in this fight.”

Commending the Cameroonian youths for their love for peace, the U.S diplomat described the barbaric sect book haram that is constantly posing security challenges to Cameroon as “dark clouds” to be ward off by the lights of Cameroonian civil society groups.

Expressing his country’s readiness to assist youth entrepreneurship, he advised young people to be creative, innovative and initiate private enterprises.

Harping on the vulnerability of women to extremism and terrorism, Kendemeh Vivian JOY, chief of gender in the ministry of women and the family said women have potentials for the maintenance of peace if empowered. A woman is the closest adviser of the husband, nurturer of the family, a good manager, animator, make up a majority of the population in the society, political and religious groupings, she said.

These are avenues in women that could be used to pass across messages of peace, harmony and concord, she added. Achaeleke Christian Leke, a commonwealth youth ambassador, and one of the facilitators at Bamenda peace conclave called on the youths to be responsible.

“The youths lay too much blames on the government without doing anything,” he noted, there is a need encouraging them to embrace volunteerism and be ambassadors of peace and not violent extremism.

On the situation at hand in the far north region often targeted by Boko Haram, Oumarou Bouba, said they live just for half a day in Maroua and are on permanent alert.

“You don’t know when they will attack, who is involved, what tool they will use and where they will attack. We are scared to go to the market and socialize. All activities come to a halt at 8pm.”