As Cameroon rolls into the first month of the electoral year, peace crusaders have begun campaigning for calm before, during and after the vote, especially by young people. It is in this light that youth-focused Non-Governmental Organisation, Local Youth Corner (LOYOC) Cameroon has announced the launch of its Harnessing Opportunities for Peaceful Electoral Processes (HOPE) Project. It is a youth-led initiative aimed at fostering peaceful electoral processes across the country.
The launch of the project was announced at a press conference in Yaounde on Friday, January 17 by officials of the organization. This was in the presence of some stakeholders in the electoral process including polls management agency, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) and the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT).
The HOPE project, according to LOYOC, seeks to address the underlying causes of electoral violence while empowering young people through civic moral and entrepreneurial education. It also aims to strengthen democratic institutions vital for national stability and development, officials said.
Supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education (MINJEC) and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the implementing organization said the HOPE project will equip young leaders with skills necessary to promote peaceful participation in elections.
Speaking at the press conference, a representative of MINAT, Paul Anchang stressed the need to educate youths on their civil and civic rights as a gateway to peaceful elections.
Meanwhile, Dr Ordy Betga, a Human Rights and democracy analyst from the UN Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa empahsized the need to avoid abuse by law enforcement officials. She noted with regret that sometimes the law enforcement sector crosses its frontiers when people try to express their rights.
Cameroonians will head to the polls come October to elect a new president. President Paul Biya is expected to seek re-election, though he has not publicly declared his candidacy yet.
Previous elections in the country including the 2018 presidential elections have been marred by violence often involving mainly young people. However, with the coming of the HOPE project and the apparent growing momentum among the young people to contribute positively to the electoral process, the coming elections may not be characterized by the same.
Through the project, LOYOC says 100,000 educational materials will be distributed, while young people will also be educated through weekly talk shows. Still as part of the project, some 30 youth leaders will be trained on peaceful elections and other youth leaders to mediate and facilitate dialogue.
