Religion, Peace, Social Cohesion: Exploring All Existing Avenues

E xperts in intra and inter-reli­ gious conflicts, university pro­ fessors, representatives of in­ ternational organisations ba­ sed in Cameroon, government minis­ tries in charge of managing religions and their impact on society, as well as civil society organisations, among others are meeting at the Yaounde Conference Centre within the context of a colloquium organised by the Na­ tional Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism. The three-day event began yesterday October 7, 2026 with deliberations unfolding under the theme, “Religions and the promotion of peace, social cohesion and living together in Ca­ meroon.” The Chairperson of the Com­ mission, Peter Mafany Musonge, chai­ red the opening ceremony attended by several personalities besides the participants. The capital importance of the collo­ quium, the Chairperson stated, falls within the missions of the Commission in the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism in line of maintaining peace, consolidating national unity and reinforcing living together. Religion, he said, is an aspect that favours reconciliation with religious leaders in most cases acting as neutral mediators, worthy of confidence and playing the role of a moral authority when it comes to conflict management and promoting social cohesion. Un­ fortunately, recent events have not been the case as highlighted by the Chairperson. There have been cases of religious identity being used for political purposes, some actors ex­ ploiting religion, in an already tense political context, to pit communities against each other, families being torn apart because of their religious practices or faith. “If a family, the true basic unit of the community, is broken in the name of religion, then what would be the fate of the entire community? Our country has seen its share of social unrest and serious tensions due to certain religious prac­ tices. Families have been torn apart, hate speech has been spread in some churches, and communities have been set against ea...