Cameroonian Women Win German Africa Prize for Peace Efforts

The 1st National Women's Convention for Peace in Cameroon, an umbrella group with 80 member organisations, has been awarded the German Africa Prize, according to Deutsche Welle.

It is the largest and most far-reaching network of women's organisations focusing on peace in Cameroon. It was established in January 2021 and is made up of organisations representing the 10 regions of Cameroon, as well as up to 25 distinct social categories of women.

The women called for an immediate cease-fire, a resumption of dialogue between the government and separatists in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, a place for women at the negotiating table, the strengthening of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration centres and the creation of psychosocial support centres for war victims in conflict regions.

The German foundation has been committed to strengthening relations between Germany and Africa for 45 years. Since 1993, the foundation has awarded the German Africa Prize to outstanding personalities from the continent who have made exceptional contributions to democracy, peace, human rights, arts and culture, economic development, science and society.

Cameroon's English-speaking separatists launched their rebellion in 2017 after what they say was years of discrimination by the country's French-speaking majority.

The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced more than 760,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group.

More recently, thirty women kidnapped by pro-independence rebels were released, some with serious injuries. Deutsche Welle reports that the women were released on Wednesday May 24, 2023, having been captured days earlier. A prominent traditional leader in the troubled Northwest region, Fon Kevin Shumitang, was also freed after 18 months of being held captive by separatists. Government officials say the military rescued him in battles with separatist fighters, but the fighters insist that they set the traditional ruler free.

This article originally appeared on AllAfrica.

Image via 1st National Women's Convention for Peace.