BY. PETIUH FREDERICK TANDAH, Cohort 7 #AFFCameroon
Many youths in the northwest region of Cameroon have engaged themselves in using their social media platforms to promote peace within the context of the anglophone crisis. They have understood that, the very social media used by others to perpetrate violence and fuel the crisis, they can still use it to counteract this people and promote a safe environment for all.
In line with the fight against hate speech and the promotion of peace within the context of the ongoing anglophone crisis in the northwest and southwest regions of Cameroon, many youths (peace advocates) especially university students are making good use of the advent of the internet, by using the social media platforms to sensitize the population on the importance of peace in Bamenda.
Body
With the fast-growing usage of the internet and especially social media platforms in Bamenda by the youths, information and especially fake news go viral in simple clicks. With the commencement of the anglophone crisis, some youths now spread unverified information on attacks, ghost towns, hate, and dangerous speeches among others (citizen journalism). With the alarming rate of social media users in Cameroon, Facebook has the highest number of users ( about 4 million) and Linkedin ( about 1 million ) according to Reports from Cameroon web on February 2020, Statistics counter on August 2021, and Business in Cameroon on March 2022 on the most used social platforms in Cameroon. With this level of usage, many youths especially university students ( peace advocates) have seized the opportunity to use their social media platforms as a medium for sensitizing the community by organizing workshops, and continue using their platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, youtube within September 19 to August 30, 2022, To assist in the promotion of peace in the region and to fight against hate speech,
especially during the current crisis rocking the region.
Working for different organizations, and attending different activities and training on peacebuilding, youths like Verina Mondua( working with,CAGEAD Cameroon, click here), Sakinatu Abdou ( working with CAGEAD Cameroon), Abdul Aziz,( Peace advocate in Bamenda), Charlotte Ndum, Jaczy Bright of the GLOBAL VISIONARIES NETWORK, https://twitter.com/JaczyBright/status/1571455714190823424?t=1hOip8vnKqW0wRoMyEJpHA&s=08 ( peace advocate in Bamenda), Atigi Samuel of MANDELA VOLUNTARY FOUNDATION CAMEROON, link, Bahiru Adamu, peace advocate,https://twitter.com/adamu_bahiru/status/1572534839185936384?t=7mENmONIiz5bRtHarZDZpA&s=19
CONCLUSION
Everything said and done, these initiatives undertaken by the youths of the Northwest region, are going a long way to bringing peace and tranquility to the said region. With all the activities carried on peace: seminars, during football tournaments in the region, both at the regional and local levels, training on peace, and fact-checking among others these initiatives are one of the best in restoring calmness in the region. With these measures undertaken by the youths, combine with that of the Government, we can rest assured of peace, calm and free space for all in the Northwest region of Cameroon in particular and Cameroon in general.
Recommandations
Today, being the digital century, While other youths are doing this great job of promoting peace using their social media platforms, other media organs, content creators,( bloggers), and journalists among others, should try as much as possible to equally use their social media forums to help spread information and encouraged people about the importance of peace( create awareness) because the insecurity and violence are perpetrated by mostly the younger population.
1. To Bloggers
Using their various social media blogs, all bloggers should promote peace by first publishing the right information ( verified ), avoid misleading information, avoid hate speech because these are some of the causes of violence in our communities.
2. To Content Creators
Same with bloggers, content creators working with companies, or individually, should avoid hateful contents, biased and unbalance contents. They should create promote peace by creating peaceful contents and should be monitored by the State.
3. To media Houses
They are news delivered. They always make sure to be balanced, unbiased, don’t choose side, should not include their vues and opinions when telling a story.
4. To the Government
The government should equally encourage such young people who have decided to advocate for peace and to fully engage themselves, time, and resources to create awareness and educate the population on the importance of a peaceful community.
- by giving them grants, further training on peace, support them during their activities, and why not incorporate peace programs on the National television channels ( both tv and radio) and pass a law for all private radio and Television stations to do same.
- The Government should equally include peace as a compulsory subject in all schools and levels.
