MBOSCUDA-Cameroon NW Regional Chapter

PROJECT UPDATE!!

"Promoting Non-Violent Community-Based Solutions tobth3 Escalation of Conflicts between Mbororo Pastoralists and Crop Farming Communities in the NWR of Cameroon"

MBOSCUDA NW progressively continues to implement the project activities with funding from the Canadian Embassy in Yaoundé in the Ndu Municipality in 3 communities (Mbandfung, Mbongong, & Ngarbu 1). The project is being implemented with financial support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The project title is “Promoting non-violent community-based solutions to the escalation of conflicts between Mbororo Pastoralists and Crop Farming communities in the North West Region of Cameroon”. The project activities implementation started in August 2023 and will be completed by enf of February, 2024.

In order to resolve recurrent conflict between the Wimbum and Mbororos in Ndu sub division that has recently escalated to violence leading to loss of human lives and destruction of properties, a peace initiative has been carried out. The peace initiative involved intra-community and intercommunity dialogue within and between the conflicting communities. The project began with training of peace crusaders from the concerned communities that is Mbongong, Mbandfung and Ngarbu on November 16th and 17th, 2023. The peace crusaders chosen from the conflicting communities were then charged with organization of intra-community and intercommunity dialogues, which will have as main aim to find a lasting solution to the disparity between the two communities who have always lived in harmony for decades. After holding the dialogue at the various levels, the following causes and resolutions were brought forth;
The ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions and farmer-grazer conflict were identified as the major fueling factors causing friction between the two communities.

It was resolved amongst many others that, a traditional council comprising members of the Wimbum and Mbororo community should be created in the concerned communities, a mixed vigilante committee should also be created, all disputes should be presented first to the leader of each community before bringing it to the Village Traditional Council. The Mbororo cattle herders have been encouraged to build night paddocks to avoid straying of animals during the night into farms.

The 3 communities were also supported to develop an Early Warning and Conflict Prevention Mechanisms. The communities are being supported to implement their early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms. The trained Community Peace Facilitators are working closely with other community leaders to implement these mechanisms with backstopping from MBOSCUDA NWR project staff.

It is believed if these and many others are implemented and respected by the Mbongong, Mbandfung and Ngarbu communities of Ndu Sub Division-Donga Mantung, there will once more be long lasting peace as it used to be in the past.

The project is funded by the Canadian Embassy and executed by the Mbororo Social, Cultural and Develop Association (MBOSCUDA).

Pic....Members at the Inter Community Dialogue Meeting at Ngarbu with the Fon of Ngarbu and the Ardo.

(Ngarbu Community experienced the most fatal conflicts with many deaths and destructions)