Editorial: Cameroon's Agenda 2030: Tall in words, short in action!.

Although he focused his message mainly within an international context, the conflict in the North West and South West Regions, tribalism, injustice and poverty, bring to question the absence of peace in Cameroon.

In the words of the Moderator: “Rumbling tensions and aggressions are brewing around the globe…challenges and threats to peace are therefore widening the gap between the rich and the poor, which cannot be ignored because a poor and hungry person knows no peace and cannot give peace to anyone”

The Moderator went further to encourage Christians to “cultivate paradigms that embrace and provide social, political, economic solace and welfare space for every human being on earth; for there are no lesser human beings. Essentially, every human being has equal rights to existence because they are all gifts from God the Creator”.

Stressing on this year’s theme, the Man of God said cultivating a culture of peace amongst humanity across races, religions, colours, regions that break socio-economic and political barriers, demands that Christians should value and hold every human life in sacredness. He ended by calling on Christians to take the bold steps for peace.

Cameroon's Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, through its objective recognises that "peaceful and inclusive societies, founded on accountable and inclusive institutions that guarantee access to justice for all and leave no one behind, are an enabler of sustainable development".

The observance of the International Day of Peace serves as a poignant reminder of each country's collective responsibility to cultivate a culture of peace to prevent such vices.

The expansion of compassion, whether through supporting displaced communities or addressing inequalities, plays a critical role in cultivating a culture of peace. 

In this light, peace is not merely an absence of war but an active process of building inclusive, resilient societies.

As the United Nations has noted, tragically, conflict-affected areas are also the scene of serious human rights violations, including sexual violence, abduction and abuse of all kinds. 

These atrocities have a disproportionate impact on young women and girls, subjecting them to additional suffering and hardship.

Expanding the notions of empathy and cooperation, both on an individual and collective levels, is fundamental to the process to curb sufferings. 

The International Day of Peace calls on governments, not only to lay down arms but to see each other’s humanity and create the conditions for lasting reconciliation and social integration.

There is need to integrate both strategic thinking and empathy, as exemplified by the UN’s declaration, especially as Cameroon's Philemon Yang is at the helm, to work towards a sustainable, peaceful future.

As the PCC Moderator said, “aliens won't do it for us, but we are the ones to do it for ourselves in order to make our lives worth living and our communities and world better for our harmonious and peaceful co-existence. Let's save ourselves, and let's save our world. Peace should be the conscious call for all humanity to engage in”.

It is a proposal renowned peace crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, has, for the umpteenth time, offered as the blueprint through the creation of a Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Commission, to resolve the conflict in the North West and South West Regions, that has been an obstacle to peace in the country for eight years running.

Also, within the peace and security pillar of the United Nations, a series of policy reviews are all emphasising that the United Nations should shift its focus towards addressing the root causes of violent conflicts.

It promotes the concept of “sustaining peace,” to reaffirm that peace building encompasses post-conflict interventions and a wider scope of efforts ranging from prevention to longer-term peace consolidation.

As Cameroon celebrates International Peace Day on Saturday, The Guardian Post urges Yaounde, not just to make it a speech-making ceremony, but take action to take measures to restore peace, especially in the restive North West and South West Regions, so as to realise its Vision 2030, since economic development and peace do not just correlate but reinforce each other.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3234 of Thursday September 19, 2024