OCTOBER 12’25: Conflict Expert, Robert Ngangue, Launches Nationwide Peace, Non-violence Campaign

A campaign to douse rising tensions, prevent the outbreak of violence and promote peace before, during and after the October 12 presidential election was launched on Monday.
The peace and non-violence campaign dubbed: “Give Peace a Chance (GPaC)”, was fagged off during a press conference held in the nation’s capital city, Yaounde, on September 22.
The self-funded campaign to run from September 23 to November 22, 2025, is an initiative of ace Cameroonian conflict expert, Robert Roger Ngangue.
It was flagged off through his not-for-profit association, Ombudsperson Media Initiative, OMI, in partnership with different civil society actors.
The campaign targets, notably; government authorities in charge of territorial command, political party leaders in the presidential race, heads of electoral institutions, heads of defense and security forces, civil society leaders, academics, students, cultural and sports figures, religious and community leaders, diaspora leaders, national media leaders including social media influencers, opinion leaders, ordinary citizens promoting peace, tolerance, dialogue, and non-violence among others.
The initiator and promoter of the campaign, Robert Roger Ngangue, said the initiative’s goal is to prevent potential election-related violence by raising awareness among key players in the electoral process and the general public about peace, non-violence, and the importance of dialogue in resolving disputes and reducing escalating tensions and unrest in Cameroon.
The Conflictologist and former United Nations official with a 25-year career in conflict resolution around the world, said the initiative very is timely.
This, he explained, is especially as dialogue, tolerance, and trust are crumbling in Cameroon’s democratic space, with red lines still blurred in terms of language, attitudes, and behavior.

“We all witnessed the mounting tension in the media, and bearing in mind what happens in neighbouring countries where war is raging, we thought it will be a good initiative to sensitise all Cameroonians; to behalf in a way that pushes away and reject any violence during the election, in order to prevent our country from falling into serious violence,” he explained.

The certified professional mediator said the campaign is a strategic move and action towards restoring peace, listening, dialogue, mutual respect, triumphant patriotism, overcoming differences, and civic diplomacy at the heart of human and political-social interactions.
“The purpose of this national campaign is to prevent potential election-related violence by raising awareness among key players in the electoral process and the general public about peace, non-violence, and the importance of dialogue in resolving disputes and reducing escalating tensions and unrest in Cameroon,” the conflict expert said.

Key activities to be carried out

He said the association, will through the campaign, engage in wide-ranging activities to reach millions of Cameroonians and ensure they do “not up for violence as a last resort” during the upcoming election.
Ngangue said the campaign will engage in educational and awareness-raising talks with target group leaders and the diaspora compatriots, citizen diplomacy, white card operation and engagement of key actors in non-violence.

He also mentioned a contest for the best song, poem, or drawing promoting peace and nonviolence, media and social media campaign with messages of peace and nonviolence, display of giant billboards with messages of peace.
Establishment of a coalition of 100 associations for peace and non-violence throughout the country and one-off mass awareness-raising actions at junctions and distribution of gadgets on non-violence, he said is also among key activities.
The conflict expert also talked of mapping of actors with inflammatory rhetoric/ statements and men/women of peace, conducting an opinion poll/talk therapy to map major problems and priority public actions as well as produce a summary report on key findings to be sent to elected officials.

Projected outcome

With general goal to ensure peace and non-violence, Ngangue said they expect to sensitise at least five million Cameroonians indirectly and engage at least 500 influencers and opinion leaders to adhere to the principle of non-violence.
He said they also expect to hold 50 group discussions on non-violence and 50 commitments to non-aggression and non-violence signed by key actors as well as engage 100 influential leaders to commit to the white card campaign for non-violence during the election.
Ngangue said they also expect to consult one million people as part of the dialogue therapy, grievances and sample aspirations for transmission of the summary to the new leadership team.

The campaign, he said, also expects to engage at least 100 national associations and partners to adhere to the ideals and commit to it through their respective members and networks and rally at least 100 artists in the singing, poetry, painting and graffiti competition on peace and raise awareness of non-violence through art.
The campaign, it should be said, is based on a conflict prevention strategy focused on the principle of nonviolence, which rejects the use of physical force, verbal aggression, intimidation, and all forms of coercion to resolve conflicts or achieve objectives.
It also anchors on the principle that lasting social and political change is achieved through peaceful means, including dialogue, negotiation, and tolerance.
The launching was followed by an educational discussion on peace and non-violence, involving leaders from civil society, local associations, and networks working on peace issues, to pool efforts and broaden the campaign’s impact.