YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Bamenda, a western Cameroon city at the heart of a devastating separatist war that aid organizations describe as among the globe’s most overlooked humanitarian disasters.
The pontiff will lead a Thursday peace gathering featuring religious leaders from multiple faiths, including a traditional Mankon chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an Islamic imam, and a Catholic nun. This interfaith summit aims to showcase ongoing efforts by religious communities to resolve the deadly conflict and provide support for countless trauma survivors.
Leo XIV will also conduct a special Mass for Bamenda residents, whose city sits close to Cameroon’s western boundary with Nigeria.
The pope touched down in Cameroon Wednesday as part of his four-country African tour, marking the inaugural continental visit by America’s first pope. During his welcome address, he called for dismantling the “chains of corruption” plaguing this resource-rich nation and challenged President Paul Biya about the proper use of governmental power.
Biya, age 93 and currently the world’s eldest head of state, has governed since 1982 and maintains he secured victory in a controversial election last year, granting him an eighth presidential term.
The turmoil in Cameroon’s two English-speaking provinces stems from the nation’s colonial past, when French and British authorities split control following World War I. These English-speaking territories eventually united with French Cameroon through a 1961 United Nations-supported referendum, though separatist groups claim they’ve faced systematic political and economic discrimination ever since.
English-speaking rebels initiated an armed uprising in 2017, declaring their intention to separate from the French-speaking majority and form their own nation. According to International Crisis Group data, this violence has resulted in more than 6,000 deaths and forced over 600,000 people from their homes.
Before Leo XIV’s arrival, separatist forces declared a three-day combat suspension. Unity Alliance spokesman Lucas Asu explained the temporary halt “reflects a deliberate commitment to responsibility, restraint and respect for human dignity, even in the context of ongoing conflict.”
Asu emphasized that the papal visit should maintain its “spiritual” focus without appearing to support any particular political faction.
While fatal separatist attacks have diminished in recent years, no resolution appears imminent. International mediation efforts have stalled, with opposing sides blaming each other for negotiating dishonestly.
