By Guy Feugap, Africa Organizer of World BEYOND War
For four days from 17 to 20 July 2026, Cameroon hosted the 34th international congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Organized by the WILPF Cameroon section in a hybrid format, the congress, WILPF’s highest decision-making body, marked an important milestone for both Cameroon and the global feminist peace movement. Delegates from more than forty national sections elected a new International Board, re-elected Cameroonian peace leader Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo as International President, and committed again to advancing feminist peace in a world increasingly affected by war, militarization and injustice. World BEYOND War supported WILPF Cameroon in organizing this event.
Hosting the Congress in Cameroon carried a symbolic significance. Although often perceived as a relatively stable country in Africa, Cameroon has been deeply affected by multiple and overlapping crises. Armed conflict in the North-West and South-West regions, violent extremism in the Far North, the arrival of refugees from neighboring countries, and intercommunal and political tensions have all placed immense pressure on communities, with women and children bearing a disproportionate share of the consequences. As WILPF Cameroon President Nathalie Wokam Foko noted in her opening address, “Women are too often the first to experience displacement, widowhood, economic hardship, and violence, yet they are also among the first to rebuild peace”.
Against this backdrop, bringing the international feminist peace movement to Yaoundé was far more than a logistical choice. It demonstrated confidence in the leadership and resilience of WILPF in Cameroon while sending the message that peacebuilding must take place where its impact is most urgently needed. The congress also created an opportunity for representatives of the Cameroonian government, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, international partners, and peace advocates from Cameroon and around the world to come together around the shared vision that sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue, justice, inclusion, and the meaningful participation of women.
Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo Re-elected to Lead WILPF for a New 3-Years Term
One of the defining moments of the congress was the re-election of Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo of Cameroon as International President of WILPF for a new three-year term, with 78% of votes. WILPF members from around the world continue to place confidence in her, upon recognizing that under her leadership, WILPF has strengthened its commitment to feminist peace, disarmament, and justice while expanding collaboration across regions and movements.
For Cameroon, Sylvie’s re-election is also a source of national pride. Founder of WILPF Cameroon, she has spent a decade building the section into one of the movement’s most active and respected. From advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda to promoting peace education and early warning mechanisms, supporting internally displaced women, her work has demonstrated that local action influences global peacebuilding.
World BEYOND War’s Contribution to the Congress
As a partner of WILPF Cameroon, World BEYOND War was invited and provided support for the organization. Representing WBW, I joined the congress organizing team, where I contributed to several key aspects of the event. My responsibilities included supporting logistical coordination, facilitating communication among organizers, moderating selected congress sessions, and serving on the Peace Team, a volunteer group responsible for fostering dialogue, responding to tensions, and helping ensure that the congress remained a safe, respectful, and collaborative space for all participants. The congress was more than an organizational milestone. Bringing this global gathering to Cameroon demonstrated that countries facing complex security challenges are not merely places where peace is needed; they are also places where innovative solutions, resilient communities, and transformative leadership emerge. For us, supporting this Congress was not simply about helping organize an event, but about standing alongside a partner whose work demonstrates that feminist leadership, nonviolent action, and community-based peacebuilding are essential to building a world beyond war.
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