Armed conflict in NW, SW: Women taskforce unveils strategic plan to help restore peace.

The meeting, held at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation, brought together women leaders from across the 13 Divisions that make up the North West and South West Regions. It was also attended by the Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon, Her Excellency Natalie Kohli.

Commenting on the current state of affairs in the Anglophone regions, the General Coordinator of SNWOT, Waah Clotilda Andiensa, regretted that the regions were yet to enjoy peace after ten years of bloodshed.

Waah told reporters that: “Peace isn’t something we can measure like a cup of garri. For, we us, we measure peace when women can walk to the farms, churches, markets without having to run away from gunshots…when children can go to school freely as we expected them to have started school on the 7th of September but unfortunately it is not the same in the North West and South West Regions which is presently under a lockdown. So, that to us means that there not yet peace because if it were, we will want to see our children go to school”.

She continued that: “The reality remains that there is still a lot of insecurity. Communities are still being hurt and there is still violence that is happening”.

For her, SNWOT strategic plan carries the panacea. Waah told reporters that the strategic plan is anchored on five priority areas. 

“We want to build resilience and social cohesion within the communities. We want to strengthen participation of women and youth in peace processes. We equally want to make sure that we use advocacy to advocate for policies that can bring change,” the coordinator said, adding that: “We equally want to strengthen SNWOT as a movement and we really want to develop partnerships both at the national and international levels”.

“We believe that if we bring strategic partnerships, we will be able to improve on the results that we have been having …we will be able to look at things in a more structured way with people who really understand them,” she added.

“We have our strategic plan and different priority areas and we know that our partners have their own priority areas and it is our wish that today that they have sat here and listened to us, they have seen what we really want to do differently as women in the community and we will be looking forward to hearing from each and every one of them on how they can engage to support us,” she furthered.

Enter Swiss Ambassador

Meanwhile, speaking earlier, Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Her Excellency Natalie Kohli, reiterated her country’s desire in helping Cameroon restore peace in the troubled regions.

The diplomat who delivered a script address at the gathering was categorical that no single actor can build peace alone. 

The Swiss envoy explained that restoring peace requires cooperation with communities, civil society organisations, governments, international organisations, research institutions and development partners. 

“It requires listening, learning and working together even when progress is gradual,” she added. The diplomat said Switzerland has been supporting peacebuilding efforts in Cameroon for a very long time. 

“We are very convinced…about the role of women in peace building process. As women are anchored in the communities, they contribute to making peace more sustainable and more inclusive,” she noted.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3906 of Friday September 11, 2026