When Jean-René Beauchemin was offered his first mission as a Protection Delegate in Cameroon, he couldn't help but feel nervous — and rightly so. On his second day, he was sent on a field trip, where, within the first 20 minutes, he came across the scene of a murder. On his fourth day, he and his team were confronted by belligerents, who aimed rifles at their car. These early experiences sharpened his awareness of the challenges the coming year might have in store but also reaffirmed for him the importance of his mission.

Jean-René arrived in the city of Bamenda in November 2022, six years after lawyers and teachers from Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West regions had taken to the streets to demand the recognition of English as an official language in education and legal/administrative systems. Although these protests were peaceful, the government cracked down on them aggressively, resulting in the formation of separatist armed groups and a sharp escalation in violence. In this challenging context, Jean-René and his team in Bamenda engaged with authorities and non-state armed groups under international humanitarian law, to try to ensure that all parties fulfilled their obligations to protect the safety, physical integrity, and dignity of people affected by the violence.

Meetings with state military commanders tended to be more frequent and easier to organize due to the familiarity built over a long history of interactions and dialogue in the past. However, arranging meetings with armed groups proved more challenging. While I could regularly speak with some leaders by phone, face-to-face meetings were only possible at their checkpoints, which required constant readiness during field trips, Jean-René explains. Whether these meetings were with state or non-state parties, the preparation for them followed a consistent pattern: thoroughly reviewing the points to be raised and agreeing on who would speak on each. This approach ensured that the ICRC kept control of the conversations and prevented those to whom the delegates were speaking from diverting the discussion, whether intentionally or not. In addition to these strategic preparations, Jean-René had his own personal rituals, which were more reflective in nature. These included visualizing potential scenarios and meditating. These practices helped him stay focused, calm and adaptable during the meetings.

Engaging with remote communities was also part of Jean-René’s role whether for identifying critical needs, gathering information on tragic events to aid victims and prevent future occurrences, assisting families in reporting missing persons and initiating searches, or conducting visits to people held in temporary places of detention. While meetings with the population seemed easier initially, given their non-confrontational nature, they presented unique challenges of their own, such as overcoming language barriers and navigating the emotional depth of conversations centered on personal tragedies. “Despite my limited grasp of the language [Pidgin], I still managed to gather stories directly from victims, leaving me both inspired by their resilience and heartbroken by their traumas. I remember a discussion where I used the pretext of offering a glass of water and tissues, so I could go hide and let go of my tears before returning to the victim,” Jean-René recalls.

Life back at the ICRC residence was not without its challenges, either. Frequent, multi-day lockdowns meant that weekends and evenings were often spent in isolation, adding to the physical and emotional strain of the work. We occasionally ran urgent errands in Bamenda, but I rarely left the residence, owing to the high number of incidents occurring in town, Jean-René says. Support from peers and mentors at the sub-delegation, along with staying connected with loved ones, prevented me from isolation, he adds. Surprisingly, amid the contextual instability, Jean-René developed a comforting routine consisting of mindfulness, exercise, reading, journaling, learning the bass guitar and painting.

After 14 months in Bamenda, Jean-René left with mixed emotions. On the one hand, he was proud of the team’s accomplishments; on the other, he was sad to leave friends with whom he had created so many memories, such as of learning the song ‘I Want Marry’ by Ni Alfre Kwende, or of when a villager gifted him a live chicken in gratitude for his work in her community. Ultimately, however, Jean-René was relieved that no major security incidents had occurred during his mission and affirms that, Despite the challenges, this position is profoundly rewarding when fully embraced.

Jean-René embarked on his second mission this September, to Haiti, where he now works as a field team leader for the next 18 months.

Learn more about the delegate position here.