Refugee turned peacemaker: The young woman leader transforming communities in the Central African Republic
CAR has faced recurrent cycles of conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, prompting the rise of largely Christian anti-Balaka militias. In Batangafo, a town in the northwest once celebrated for its diversity, fear, mistrust, and displacement have now become daily realities. Amid this upheaval, Nina found her purpose: helping others rebuild their lives and restore a sense of hope.
© Nina Mireille Yankinon
Nina Mireille Yankinon (third from left) participates in a community awareness campaign a village in Limpendé prefecture in northwestern Central African Republic.
From displacement to determinationSpeaking to UN News she noted that “the 2013 violence in CAR had a profound and lasting impact on my life, both personally and professionally.” “Like many others in my home region of Batangafo and across the conflict-ridden country, my family and I became direct victims of the armed clashes.”“We were forced to abandon our home, possessions, and stable life to seek refuge in neighbouring Cameroon to the west. These traumatic events galvanised my commitment to peacebuilding and to protecting the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.”Since returning to the country, Nina has founded an NGO called Londo E Lekere (ILEL) (Let us rise up and build), which is supported by the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). It leads initiatives focusing on peacebuilding, and empowering women’s leadership.Building bridges in a divided societyIn a society fractured by religious and ethnic mistrust, fostering dialogue across generations and beliefs remains one of the greatest challenges. “The ethnic and religious tensions, particularly between Muslims and Christians, have been heightened since 2013, creating deep mistrust and making genuine interreligious dialogue difficult,” said Nina, adding that “compounding this are generational and gender disparities, which frequently lead to the marginalisation of young people and women in community decision-making.” To address these divisions, ILEL creates inclusive forums for dialogue including radio programmes, awareness campaigns in schools. It also organises conferences and debates and promoting women as peace leaders. Youth and gender: Turning barriers into strengthsAs a young woman working in a leadership role in what she described as a “patriarchal” context, Nina has faced her share of resistance.“Elders and traditional leaders sometimes question the authority of a young woman like me to lead initiatives. This manifests as initial resistance during inter-community awareness campaigns.”
