Why are mediation & dialogue important in Cameroon today?.

Within families, businesses, government agencies, communities, and even in the public and political spheres, sources of tension appear to be on the rise, and uncertainties regarding institutional stability are growing. Disagreements can quickly escalate into confrontations and clashes, positions become more radicalized, and trust between individuals and institutions gradually erodes.

Faced with this reality, a crucial question arises: How can we restore trust, prevent the escalation of conflicts, and build a shared future in such a tense environment? The answer lies largely in dialogue and mediation.

Conflict: A normal reality of any society

Contrary to popular belief, conflict is not necessarily a problem. Conflict is a natural part of human life. It arises from differences in interests, needs, values, perceptions, or structural inequalities. 

What becomes problematic is not the existence of conflict itself, but the way it is managed. When there is no longer any space for dialogue or peace-building structures that allow people to speak and listen to one another freely and without prejudice, misunderstandings multiply, opposing views become increasingly polarized, mistrust takes root, and tensions can escalate into lasting rifts, violence, and/or armed conflict.

Cameroon, which today faces multiple divisions, is no exception to this reality. Indeed, several types of conflicts are affecting Cameroon’s sociopolitical fabric: Structural and systemic conflicts; family conflicts related to inheritance, divorce, or land disputes; conflicts between employers and employees; commercial disputes between business partners; tensions and violence between communities; conflicts over access to natural resources and the redistribution of economic resources; disputes between citizens and government agencies; misunderstandings between those in power and the governed, conflicts related to access to civil service entrance exams, conflicts stemming from rampant moral decay and urban incivility, and security conflicts in certain parts of the country—the list is far from exhaustive.

These conflict situations carry a considerable human, social, and economic cost. They erode trust, hinder investment, discourage initiative, and compromise development.

The limitations of traditional responses to conflict

For a long time, the systematic reliance on the police, the gendarmerie, the courts, civil administrators, and—to a decreasing extent—religious, community, and traditional leaders has remained the primary means of resolving disputes, litigation, and complaints in Cameroon. 

Multiple sources report that more than 95% of the Cameroonian population turns to the conventional justice system to resolve their disputes. The justice system naturally plays a fundamental role in the rule of law. 

However, in many cases, legal proceedings can be lengthy, costly, public, and emotionally taxing. Above all, they are quite often subject to influence peddling and sometimes result in a decision that designates a winner and a loser, which creates deep rifts in relationships—and even within communities—and discourages the most vulnerable citizens. 

Neutral and amicable recourse mechanisms do indeed exist, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHLC) or CONAC. However, these institutions have specific mandates (human rights, corruption) and lack the authority to directly intervene with the government to peacefully rectify simple, everyday injustices. 

This lack of peaceful resolution fuels a sense of impunity, identity-based isolation, and social instability. Yet in real life, people who find themselves facing off in court often must continue to live, work, or collaborate together after the conflict. This is where mediation provides essential added value.

Mediation: A culture of dialogue and responsibility

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which a neutral third party helps the parties reestablish dialogue and work together to find a mutually acceptable solution. It does not replace the justice system; rather, it complements it. 

Mediation provides a safe space where everyone can be heard, understood, and respected. It facilitates a shift from confrontation to conversation, from mistrust to trust, from deadlock to cooperation, and from conflict to the search for solutions. 

Mediation offers individuals, families, investors, communities, government agencies, and businesses a swift, confidential, and less costly alternative for resolving their disputes quickly and in an amicable and peaceful manner. 

The Government of Cameroon itself has, for several years, been implementing reforms aimed at reducing the backlog of court cases and relieving pressure on the courts. Among these measures is the development of mediation centers recognized under OHADA legislation.

Why Cameroon needs more dialogue & mediation today

Cameroon is a country rich in cultural, linguistic, and social diversity. This diversity is a strength when accompanied by inclusive dialogue mechanisms. 

In a context where public expectations are high and challenges are numerous, dialogue emerges as an indispensable tool for preventing crises, strengthening social cohesion, fostering citizen participation, restoring trust among stakeholders, supporting economic development, and building sustainable political and social solutions to multiple disputes.

Several countries around the world have recognized the importance of dialogue and mediation and have integrated them into all levels of institutional life, making them among the most prosperous, modern, and developed nations today—such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Dialogue does not mean the absence of disagreement. It means the willingness to embrace humility in the face of life’s vanity, to exchange forgiveness, tolerance, and active listening for pride, self-importance, arrogance, and contempt, to prioritize the common good over self-centeredness or sectarianism, and to seek joint solutions together and peacefully despite disagreements. It is an opportunity to build a future that will depend largely on Cameroon’s ability to peacefully manage its differences and disagreements.

Mediation and dialogue are not signs of weakness

On the contrary, they are expressions of maturity, responsibility, democratic tolerance, and leadership. They prevent the escalation of violence and conflict to explosive and chaotic proportions. 

They preserve human dignity and the benefits of progress and institutional stability while fostering sustainable compromises that are acceptable to all. Now more than ever, Cameroon needs builders of bridges rather than walls. It needs spaces for dialogue where everyone can be heard without fear of reprisal and contribute to building a more peaceful, just, and prosperous society.

Dialogue is the key to restoring trust. It reconnects wounded hearts, reestablishes conversation where it had broken down, and facilitates transformation through attentive and unbiased listening to others’ experiences. 

Mediation is the tool that transforms conflicts into opportunities for understanding and cooperation. In a world marked by divisions, conflicts, and uncertainties, investing in dialogue is not a luxury. 

It is a necessity. For Cameroon, it is also a strategic choice to preserve peace, strengthen social cohesion, and build a shared, more prosperous, and more peaceful future. Because meaningful dialogue today can prevent violence and major armed conflicts tomorrow.

By Robert Roger Ngangue: He is a Conflict Specialist & Certified Professional Mediator (ro2ngangue@gmail.com)