LOYOC, in partnership with IOM and UNICEF and with support from the European Union, is working to strengthen community-led peacebuilding and support the reintegration of former associates of non-state armed groups in the Far North Region of Cameroon.

For over a decade, communities in the Far North Region of Cameroon have lived under the shadow of insecurity driven by the activities of non-state armed groups. The toll has been significant: displaced families, fractured communities, and a generation of young people caught in the middle. Rebuilding trust and restoring social cohesion in this context is not a task that governments or international organisations can accomplish alone. It requires the active participation of the people closest to the problem, the community itself.

This is the foundation on which LOYOC’s work in the Far North is built.

A Project Rooted in Community

LOYOC is implementing a project focused on supporting the reintegration and reconciliation of former associates of non-state armed groups in the Far North, in partnership with IOM and UNICEF, and with financial support from the European Union through the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace / Peace and Resilience Fund (IcSP/FPI).

The project recognises that lasting peace cannot be imposed from the outside. It must be built from within communities, by the people who live there. That means investing in the capacity of local peace actors, such as community radio stations, peace committees, listening clubs, traditional leaders, and religious figures, to communicate effectively, mediate disputes, and create safe spaces for dialogue and reconciliation.

Equipping Community Peace Actors

In March 2026, LOYOC organised a two-day training workshop in Maroua, bringing together 30 community peace actors from Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, and Logone and Chari. Participants were trained in conflict-sensitive communication, community mediation, prevention of violent radicalisation, and the community accompaniment of individuals undergoing reintegration.

A particularly meaningful outcome of the workshop was the signing of formal collaboration agreements between community radio stations and local peace structures, formalising their commitment to jointly produce and broadcast messages of peace, tolerance, and social cohesion across the region.

Why This Matters

Many former associates of armed groups return to their communities without passing through formal support systems, leaving both returnees and host communities without the tools to navigate reintegration safely. Stigma, mistrust, and a lack of structured dialogue often fill that void. By equipping local peace actors with the skills and coordination frameworks to address these tensions constructively, this project helps communities do what they are often already willing to do, but lack the support to do well.

LOYOC’s Role

LOYOC has worked in the Far North Region for years, building trust with communities, local authorities, and international partners alike. On this project, LOYOC is responsible for identifying and supporting participants, facilitating all training activities, and providing post-training coaching to ensure that skills and partnerships developed during the workshop translate into sustained community action.

This project is one part of LOYOC’s broader commitment to peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and community resilience across Cameroon. We are grateful to IOM, UNICEF, and the European Union for their partnership and support in making this work possible.