Cameroon has slipped one place in the 2026 Global Peace Index Report (GPI), moving from 137th in 2025 to 138th out of 163 countries assessed globally. The change may appear small, but for a country struggling with armed conflicts, insecurity and political tensions; it should send a powerful message: we are not doing enough to build sustainable peace.
The latest GPI report, produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), should therefore not be treated as just another international ranking to be discussed and forgotten. It should become a moment of national introspection.
The question before Cameroon is simple but
profound: Why, after years of peace
initiatives, negotiations, security operations and appeals for reconciliation,
does the country continue to struggle to improve its peace standing? The
answer cannot be found in statistics alone.
The
Unfinished Business of Peace
Cameroon's continuing crisis in the
Northwest and Southwest Regions remains one of the country's most serious
obstacles to peace. Violence and insecurity in the northern regions, including
threats from extremist groups, also continue to place enormous pressure on
communities and state institutions.
Internal security challenges, political
tensions, governance concerns and Cameroon’s participation in regional and
international security operations further complicate the country's peace and
security architecture. The GPI measures peace through 23 indicators grouped
into three major areas: societal safety and security; ongoing domestic and
international conflict; and militarization. Cameroon's ranking of 138th
globally and 33rd in Africa therefore deserves serious attention. The message
is unmistakable: peace cannot be
achieved by security measures alone.
A
Political Solution Is Imperative
The crisis in the Northwest and Southwest
Regions requires renewed political courage. Military and security responses may
have a role in protecting citizens and maintaining public order, but they
cannot by themselves resolve a deeply rooted political crisis. Sustainable
peace requires dialogue, reconciliation, justice, healing and an inclusive
political settlement that addresses the legitimate grievances of affected
populations including addressing the root causes of the conflict. The longer
the conflict continues, the greater the human, economic and social costs.
Cameroon cannot build a peaceful future while large numbers of its citizens
remain displaced, communities remain divided and mistrust continues to dominate
relations between citizens and institutions. Where can we start?
Peace Begins With Us
Peacebuilding is not the exclusive
responsibility of the government, political parties or security forces. It is a
responsibility shared by every citizen. The message of peace associated with
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Cameroon in April this year should remind us that peace
is not an event. Peace is a way of life. It begins in our homes, communities,
churches, mosques, schools, workplaces and political institutions.
It is demonstrated when we reject hatred,
refuse to dehumanize those with whom we disagree, protect the dignity of others
and choose dialogue over violence. This is where the African philosophy of Ubuntu becomes particularly relevant:
“I am because we are.” Ubuntu cannot simply be a slogan. It must become a lived
philosophy of citizenship.
A
National Reawakening
The 2026 GPI should become a clarion call
to national reawakening. Every Cameroonian should ask: What am I doing to
promote peace? What are our political leaders doing? What are our religious and
traditional leaders doing? What role are our young people playing? What
responsibility do the media have? What can civil society do differently? And,
perhaps most importantly, are our national institutions doing enough to create
the conditions in which peace can flourish? If Cameroon wants to improve its
position in the 2027 GPI, it must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete
action.
The country needs a credible political
process to address the Northwest and Southwest crisis. It needs stronger
governance and accountability, greater respect for human rights and the rule of
law, improved social cohesion and determined efforts to reduce violence by all
armed actors—state and non-state alike.
The
Choice before Cameroon
The GPI ranking is not a verdict on the
destiny of Cameroon. It is a snapshot of where the country stands today.
Cameroon can change its trajectory. But change requires courage. It requires
leaders who are prepared to listen, citizens prepared to forgive, institutions
prepared to reform and communities prepared to rebuild trust. Peacebuilding
requires conscious effort, energy, patience and resources. It is a process—not
a one-time event. The choice before Cameroon is therefore clear: continue
managing conflict, or invest seriously in building lasting peace. The 2026
Global Peace Index has sounded the alarm. Let us not wait for another decline
in 2027 before we act. The clock is ticking and the time to build peace is
now—not tomorrow.
Peacebuilding
and Conflict Transformation Practitioner
Institute
for Polarities of Democracy, Washington, DC, USA
November
2026
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