Community Radio Stations and Peacebuilding in The Far-North Region of Cameroon
- Author William Hermann ARREY
- Co-Author SIRA AVALAYE Marie Paule
- DOI https://ww
- Country : Cameroon
- Subject : Social Sciences & International Relations
Keywords : Cameroon, Community radio stations, conflict, peacebuilding, Far-North.
Abstract
The advent of community radio stations has considerably changed the habits of the local population, who now have direct access to information, but above all information that is local and specific to their reality. In conflict zones such as the Far North Region of Cameroon, on the borders with Nigeria and Chad, these radio stations are more than ever part of the drive to promote peace and coexistence, given the difficulties people face in living together. The large influx of migrants due to the security and environmental situations in the Lake Chad Basin region has brought home the importance of community radios in providing reliable, pragmatic information that promotes peace at the community level. Nevertheless, the burden that community radio stations have to carry is undoubtedly too heavy given the realities on the ground. This article sets out to identify the challenges faced by community radio stations operating in areas where the socio-economic and security situation is difficult. The theories used in this article are: interactionism (as developed by the Chicago school) and two-step-flow (as developed by Lazarsfeld and Katz). The fieldwork was carried out in the Far-North region of Cameroon, specifically in the Mayo-Tsanaga and Diamaré Divisions. Data collection was made possible through a mixed method research approach, which was supported by techniques such as content analysis, semi-structured interviews and direct observation. All this enabled us to understand the problems facing community radio stations in this part of the country. Through the analysis in this paper two issues were raised, namely the adaptation of community radio stations to the conflict situation and the human and financial challenges that tend to slow down the action of community radio stations in building peace. These findings enabled the generation of evidence-based policy suggestions aimed at improving the functioning and peacebuilding role of community radios in the Far-North Region of Cameroon in particular and other parts of Cameroon experiencing similar situational constraints. As such, the findings have important policy implications for key communication, peacebuilding and development stakeholders and practitioners interested in building peace in conflict affected and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
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