At a time when Cameroon continues to grapple with the lingering effects of a decade-long armed conflict in its Northern, Northwest and Southwest Regions, an unexpected but powerful voice has emerged from across the Mungo. Madame Éliane Véronique Eboutou, President of the political party Participation Nationale pour une Action Citoyenne au Cameroun (PNACC) and the first woman to declare her intention to contest the 2025 presidential election, is steadily gaining the attention and respect of peace advocates, civil society actors, and conflict-affected communities for her courageous and empathetic stance on the Anglophone crisis.
In regions where frustration, fear, and disillusionment have taken deep root, many citizens now look to women leaders for a different approach—one grounded in compassion, dialogue, and moral authority. Eboutou’s outspoken call for the urgent acceleration of peace initiatives has resonated strongly in the Northwest and Southwest, where thousands of families have been displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and hope severely tested.
Civil society actors across these two regions have welcomed her intervention as both timely and meaningful. For many, it is refreshing—and even historic—to see a Francophone political leader speak openly and sincerely about the suffering in Anglophone Cameroon, without the usual defensiveness or political ambiguity that often characterizes official discourse.
Bamenda-based political economy analyst Shang Peter believes Eboutou’s engagement is not superficial. “When someone like Madame Éliane Eboutou speaks about this crisis, you know she has taken time to understand both its causes and its consequences,” he says. “She is not merely repeating political slogans. She is trying to push leaders to think about lasting solutions, not temporary military fixes.”
Indeed, Eboutou has demonstrated a rare level of courage by taking her advocacy directly into conflict zones. She remains the first and only female presidential aspirant to have physically visited both the North West and South West Regions during the height of the armed conflict—a decision that many observers have described as both bold and deeply symbolic.
Her visit to Bamenda was particularly significant. It took place at a time when the city was still reeling from the brutal abduction and assassination of Madam Njoko Frida, the Deputy Mayor of Bamenda II Council and Section President of the CPDM Women’s Wing in Mezam II. The killing of a female political leader had sent shockwaves across the region, underscoring the high level of insecurity and the personal risks faced by public figures.
Yet Eboutou still went ahead with her visit, meeting residents, speaking to victims, and listening to community leaders, youth groups, women’s associations, and members of the diaspora. Those interactions, she later noted, gave her a deeper understanding of the human cost of the conflict—beyond statistics and political narratives.
For many people on the ground, this willingness to listen made all the difference.
“I don’t think any leader can truly speak about this crisis without coming here and seeing it for themselves,” said a community elder in Bamenda. “ She came. She listened. That already puts her in a different category.”
Eboutou’s commitment to national unity has also been a defining feature of her political posture. Although she had been invested as PNACC’s presidential candidate for the October 12, 2025 election, she later withdrew her candidacy in support of President Paul Biya after aligning with his stated plan of action, particularly regarding the empowerment of women and youth in positions of responsibility. That pledge was reiterated by the Head of State during his swearing-in at the National Assembly, a gesture Eboutou and her supporters see as a positive signal toward inclusive governance.
For many grassroots actors in the North West, her decision was not a retreat but a strategic move aimed at strengthening national cohesion and opening space for dialogue.
Ndi Mayenin, President of the Mezam Bike Riders’ Union, is among those who believe Eboutou deserves a greater role in shaping Cameroon’s peace process. “It is sad that many Anglophone elites have not had the courage to speak honestly about what is happening here,” he said. “Some even blame the victims. But here we have a Francophone woman who speaks with clarity and compassion. That kind of voice should be empowered.”
Bike riders, he noted, have been among the worst affected by the conflict. Many have been killed by both separatist fighters and security forces. Others have had their motorcycles seized, been kidnapped for ransom, or forced out of business entirely. “We are on the front lines of this crisis,” Ndi Mayenin said. “Anyone who truly understands our suffering deserves to be part of the solution.”*
Today, across the North West and South West Regions, many see Éliane Véronique Eboutou not just as a politician, but as a potential bridge-builder—a woman capable of speaking across linguistic, political, and emotional divides. Her background, her courage, and her willingness to engage directly with affected communities have positioned her as a credible advocate for peace.
As Cameroon searches for a durable solution to one of the most painful chapters in its *post-independence history, voices like hers may prove indispensable. In a conflict where guns have spoken for too long, many now believe it is time for empathy, dialogue, and courageous leadership— qualities that Eboutou has shown she possesses in abundance.
By Ignatius Nji
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