Pope Leo XIV visited the city of Bamenda in western Cameroon as part of his African tour, where jubilant crowds welcomed him with horn-blowing and dancing. This trip aimed to shine a global spotlight on a separatist conflict that has traumatized the region for nearly a decade and is considered one of the world's most neglected crises.
The Pope presided over a peace meeting at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, involving a Mankon traditional chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam, and a Catholic nun. He praised this interfaith movement and warned against allowing religion to enter conflicts. "Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," he said.
He called for a "decisive change of course" away from conflict and the exploitation of land and people for military or economic gain. The Pope criticized "a handful of tyrants" ravaging the world and highlighted how resource extraction often funds weapons, perpetuating a cycle of destabilization and death. Cameroon sits atop significant reserves of oil, gas, cobalt, and gold, making resource extraction a key economic pillar.
The conflict in Cameroon's Anglophone regions stems from its colonial history, when the country was divided between France and Britain after World War I. A separatist rebellion launched in 2017 has killed over 6,000 people and displaced more than 600,000, according to the International Crisis Group. The separatist movement is allegedly backed by foreign actors, with recent convictions in the US and arrests in Belgium related to funding and support.
On the eve of the Pope's arrival, separatist fighters announced a three-day pause in fighting to ensure his safe passage. A spokesperson for the Unity Alliance, Lucas Asu, stated this reflects "a deliberate commitment to responsibility, restraint, and respect for human dignity." Although deadly attacks have decreased in recent years, the conflict shows no sign of resolution, with peace talks stalled and both sides accusing each other of bad faith.
Source: www.aljazeera.com