This article is a revised version of an article by Mission Afrika
With funding from CKU, Mission Afrika and their partner Lutheran Brethren Church has led a peacebuilding initiative in northern Cameroon since 2022, yielding promising results. The effort continues under the banner Peace Please!
The Mayo-Sava region in northern Cameroon has been marked by decades of crisis and continued conflict. Unemployment and difficult living conditions are part of daily life, and the young locals are vulnerable to recruitment by religious extremists operating in the area.
Amid the crisis, a youth conference titled: Un Jeune, Une Activité – C’est Possible! (One Youth, One Activity – It’s Possible!) fostered unity and hope.
The conference aimed at reducing youth unemployment through entrepreneurship and to preventing the locals from radicalisation by extremist groups.
It was organised by the Lutheran Brethren Church as part of a broader anti-radicalisation project supported by Mission Afrika and CKU, running from 2022 to 2024.
Over the course of four days, more than 2,000 people participated. Young locals from diverse backgrounds and religious communities presented their entrepreneurial ideas before one another, while six local ministries and numerous businesses took part as well, offering guidance to the youth.
Abba Daniel, a farmer from Warba, participated in the conference.
“Taking part in the project has allowed me to dream and hope for the future,” he says.
Abba Daniel received financial support through the anti-radicalisation project. He has since established fruit plantations and enhanced his vegetable production.
Tangible Results
The broader anti-radicalisation project, of which the conference was a part, has yielded significant results.
Beyond entrepreneurship, the project has contributed to the reintegration of former Boko Haram members in the local community, the legal recognition of the AS SALAM Peace Committee, which advocates peace and political security, and the formation of no less than 16 new peace committees.
Several local participants have received microloans and capital to realise their business ideas. The initiatives include organic farming, peanut oil extraction, and ice production.
One of the entrepreneurs, who received financial support is Mamadi Délégué. He explains:
“Previously, I had only three or four pigs, but now I have a lot, thanks to the loan. I’ve just sold four pigs, built a room for my house, and enrolled my children in a private school. It means a lot for their future.”
For Mamadi Délégué, Abba Daniel, and many other inhabitants of Mayo-Sava, the loans have made a profound impact and sparked hope for a brighter future.
Extremism with Religious Implications
Another key element of the project has been the promotion of interreligious collaboration in the region. Mayo-Sava is home to both Christians and Muslims, and young people from both communities have participated in the project.
The intersection of religion, local community, and economy is particularly significant in Mayo-Sava, which suffers from political conflict and attacks on civilians with religious implications.
Of particular concern is the strong presence of jihadist groups in the area. Subgroups of Boko Haram, such as Jamatu Ahli Al-Sunna lil Da’wa Wal Jihad and ISWAP (Islamic State’s West African Province), actively recruit the youth and are responsible for numerous kidnappings and killings of civilians.
This makes the interreligious dimension of peace work in Mayo-Sava essential.
The many entrepreneurial ideas are more than just business ventures – they are active peace projects. As one of the local organisers put it:
“When young people are employed and feel seen, they no longer need to seek refuge in violence or extremism.”
Boko Haram
Is an Islamist militant group originating in northern Nigeria. Boko Haram has been operating in Cameroon since 2013. Boko Haram is often translated as “Western education is forbidden.”
The Future Brings Peace Please!
The project has successfully bridged entrepreneurship, peace work, and anti-radicalisation. A process that can prevent youth from joining extremist groups.
Its success has laid the foundation for a new CKU-funded initiative: Peace Please!
Mission Afrika, in collaboration with the Lutheran Brethren Church, lead the project once again. Running from 2025 to 2027, its focal point is freedom of religion or belief in the same region.
The hope is to promote interreligious dialogue and create sustainable alternatives to extremism. One Youth, One Activity – It’s Possible! was the title of the aforementioned conference, and in Mayo-Sava, it became a reality. Now, the goal is to ensure that anti-radicalisation and peace work take root in the soil of Mayo-Sava.
