The Pan African University Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS) successfully hosted a landmark two-day strategic discussion on "Cultivating a Culture of Peace" on November 28-29, 2024, at the University of Yaounde II campus in Soa, Cameroon.

The event, co-organized with #Defyhatenow through their Civic Watch initiative, brought together diverse stakeholders including UN agencies, diplomatic missions, government representatives, civil society organizations, academia, and students from across Africa to address pressing challenges to peace in the continent.

Dr. Biloa Gaetan, Internship Officer at PAUGHSS, represented the Institute’s Deputy Director, Dr. Nyadjroh Nyongbet Gabsa Lidwina, at the event. In her message to participants, the Deputy Director highlighted the urgency of addressing intercommunal conflicts and political instabilities affecting African societies. "It is unfortunate that in the 21st century, our societies are grappling with intercommunal violent conflicts and political instabilities, causing extensive human misery worsened by severe climate crises throughout Africa. Yet, the solution lies within us, to use our diverse cultural backgrounds to encourage empathy and mutual understanding for a shared culture of peace," she noted.

The strategic discussion featured distinguished speakers including Professor Joseph Vincent Ntuda Ebode from the University of Yaounde II, who delivered the inaugural lecture on "Conflicts and Regional Stability." In his presentation, Professor Ntuda Ebode explained that while the African Union established a Peace and Security mechanism after the Cold War to prevent conflicts and ensure stability, new threats like terrorism require reforms at the continental level. Additional masterclasses were conducted by Professor Arrey William Herman of the Protestant University of Central Africa on "Cultivating Peace through Peacebuilding in a Post-Conflict Society," Professor Tagou Celestin from the Protestant University of Central Africa on "Leveraging Peace for Sustainable Development," and Professor Armand Leka from University of Yaounde I on "Peace in Pluralistic Society."

A significant highlight of the event was its focus on youth involvement in peacebuilding. Ngala Desmond Ngala, #defyhatenow Country Project Manager and Founder of Civic Watch emphasized that young people are often excluded from peace dialogue tables despite being affected by conflicts daily. He noted that organizing this strategic discussion with university professors, experts, and young African scholars aimed to gather expertise and experiences from different African countries.

The comprehensive program included panel discussions exploring themes such as cultivating peace through peacebuilding in post-conflict societies, climate-induced conflicts and their solutions, strategies to counter hate speech from a Pan-African perspective, and inclusive actions in conflict prevention and resolution.

The event was officially opened by H.E. Dr. Corrina Fricke, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Cameroon, and included representatives from UNESCO, UNCHD-CA, and various diplomatic missions, demonstrating the international community's support for peace initiatives in Africa.

This strategic discussion aligns with both the UN's 2024 International Day of Peace theme and the African Union's Agenda 2063, which emphasizes the importance of Women/Youth Peace and Security as crucial stakeholders in peacebuilding programs. The event showcased PAUGHSS's dedication to fostering dialogue and understanding among diverse cultures in Cameroon and across Africa.