Cameroonian peacebuilder and humanitarian leader Esther Omam has highlighted the critical role of African women in conflict mediation and peacebuilding.
The Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon was speaking during the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy held in Madrid, Spain from June 2-3, 2026 under the theme “building peace and democracy”.
It brought together more than 700 people, including ministers, diplomats, policymakers, researchers, peacebuilders, and civil society leaders from across the world to discuss the future of democracy, peace, security and inclusive governance.
Representing Cameroon, Esther Omam participated in a high-level roundtable on “The Unique Contribution of African Women to Mediation.” She joined prominent women peacebuilders from Mali, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in sharing experiences from some of Africa’s most challenging conflict and post-conflict environments.
The session was attended by Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, highlighting growing international recognition of women’s leadership in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
Drawing from the ongoing armed conflict in the English-speaking North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, Esther Omam underscored the indispensable contribution of grassroots women in sustaining dialogue, building trust, reducing tensions and fostering reconciliation within divided communities.
“Peace is not only negotiated in conference rooms. Sometimes it begins around a pot of soup, a community gathering, or a conversation between women determined to prevent violence and preserve the social fabric of their communities,” she told participants.
The discussions reinforced the view that African women are not merely beneficiaries of peace processes but active architects of peace, often working at community level where formal negotiations have limited reach.
Participants exchanged lessons from mediation initiatives, community dialogue programmes and women-led conflict prevention efforts, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge in achieving sustainable peace.
A globally recognized peace champion, Esther Omam has spearheaded several women-led networks promoting mediation, humanitarian action and social cohesion in Cameroon. Her participation in Madrid highlighted Cameroon’s commitment to locally driven peacebuilding and the inclusion of women in shaping lasting peace and security.
