For nearly a decade now, Cameroon, particularly the South West region, has been gripped by conflicts that have torn apart communities, displaced families, and left a trail of fear and uncertainty. Once a thriving region known for its rich culture and agricultural strength, it now bears the scars of prolonged violence that has seeped into nearly every aspect of life, including taking on a religious dimension, causing tension and mistrust, especially between Christians and Muslims, who make up the two main religions in the region.

As the country approaches the October 12, 2025, general elections, the tension in the air is unmistakable. The polls represent more than just a political process; they are a test of whether Cameroon can move beyond years of instability and mistrust. In the South West, many fear that renewed political competition could reignite violence, reopening wounds that have barely begun to heal. The anxiety is palpable, and peace, though desired, remains fragile. At the core of all this are suffering women and girls. Mothers who have lost their homes, daughters who have fled their villages, and young women who have seen their dreams shattered under the weight of conflict. For them, every gunshot is a reminder of loss, every political rally, especially now as the country prepares for the presidential election, a potential threat to the elusive, fragile peace they yearn for.

In this atmosphere of uncertainty, the Programme for Christian Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) has stepped in to offer a glimmer of hope with a campaign tailored to promote peace before, during, and after the elections, as well as to address the broader context of the prolonged conflict that has plagued the region. The campaign, centred on the crucial role that women play in building peaceful, cohesive, and inclusive communities, began by bringing together women from the Christian and Muslim communities in the expansive South West region to lead a peace movement that, among other things, calls for peaceful elections and peaceful coexistence.

While addressing the media, Dr. Regina Wotany stated, “Considering that women are agents of peace, we thought it wise to come together to educate other women and society at large on the importance of maintaining peace during this critical moment.” The initiative, anchored on PROCMURA’s Religious Peacebuilding, Conflict Prevention and Reconciliation programme, aims to empower women to utilise their influence, compassion, and moral authority to mitigate tensions and build harmony in their respective communities across the region.

“We have known war and fear. All we want now is peace, real peace that allows our children to go to school without fear,” said a participant from Buea, her voice heavy with emotion.

From indoor interactive sessions and reflections to shared prayers and a peace walk aimed at raising awareness of the need for and the importance of maintaining peace even beyond the electoral cycle, women from different religious backgrounds found common ground in their desire to protect their families, restore peace, and trust that their communities desperately need.

_{Dr. Regina Wotany addressing the women during an indoor session.} 

“Women are the heart of their communities. When they speak peace, people listen,” Dr Wotany added. “That is why PROCMURA recognises the fact that empowering them to take the lead in peacebuilding is not just symbolic but essential.”

The women who gathered for the forum came from various towns across the South West region, including Buea, Limbe, and Kumba. Many carried with them stories of pain and perseverance. Yet, what united them was a shared conviction that women must play a central role in pursuing peace, even when it seems so elusive and the circumstances seem impossible.

The launch of the campaign, which took place during the International Week of Peace, offered an excellent platform for women to discuss the importance of rejecting hate speech, misinformation, and political manipulation that often incite violence during elections. They also shared strategies on how to serve as community peace ambassadors, mediating minor disputes before they escalate and reminding their communities of the broader benefits that peace provides.

_{The peace walk.}

“This is not just about elections; it is about the pain that we have endured as one of the conflict-hit regions in this country and the future of our children,” said a Muslim participant from Limbe. “If peace fails, everything fails. As mothers and women of faith, we cannot allow that to happen.”

Faith played a central role throughout the event. Just as PROCMURA has been advocating for over the years, the women acknowledged that both Christianity and Islam uphold values of compassion, forgiveness, and peaceful coexistence, values that can bind communities together even in times of political or religious strain. In a region where religious and ethnic identities have sometimes been exploited to create divisions, the sight of Christian and Muslim women praying and marching together for peace was a powerful statement. Their unity conveyed a message that went beyond political and religious boundaries, emphasising that peace is not solely the responsibility of governments but a shared duty of all citizens.

_{A cross section of the women preparing to go out for the peace walk.}

At the end of the campaign launch, the women of faith committed themselves to ongoing community outreach, peace education, and the creation of interfaith platforms for dialogue, particularly in the lead-up to the elections. Many committed to becoming advocates of peace and peaceful coexistence within their churches, mosques, and women’s groups, spreading messages of calm and encouraging others to reject violence in its totality, irrespective of their religious affiliations.

“True peace is not declared after elections. It is built every day, in homes, markets, churches, and mosques,” one of the facilitators emphasised.

While the immediate goal is to ensure that the 2025 elections are peaceful, the PROCMURA’s initiative in South West Cameroon is part of a broader vision to build a culture of peace and peaceful coexistence in Africa that endures beyond political cycles, that more often than not fuel tensions, and equipping women with the right knowledge and skills in conflict prevention, dialogue, and reconciliation sits at the heart of that campaign.