The planned visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon’s conflict-ridden anglophone region has sparked cautious optimism among residents and community leaders, who are calling for an end to years of violence.
In Bamenda, widely regarded as the epicentre of the separatist conflict, locals say the pope’s presence could signal a turning point in the protracted crisis.
“As he puts his feet on this soil, we should have peace,” said Giovanni Mbuna, a youth centre manager who was previously kidnapped by armed groups.
The conflict, which began in 2016, pits government forces against separatists seeking an independent state they call Ambazonia.
Religious leaders have warned that the crisis has evolved beyond political grievances into widespread criminality.
Andrew Fuanya Nkea said the violence is increasingly driven by profit, with kidnappings and extortion now rampant across the region.
“It has become difficult to distinguish separatist fighters from criminal groups,” he said, noting that many abductions are now financially motivated.
Legal experts argue that a lasting resolution must go beyond security measures and address underlying grievances.
Joseph Fru Awah said peace efforts must confront issues of marginalisation and identity in the English-speaking regions.
He stressed that any meaningful solution must tackle what he described as the “incomplete decolonisation” of the region and ensure justice for affected communities.
According to the United Nations, the conflict has claimed about 6,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Although officials report a relative lull in violence in recent days, incidents of kidnappings and sporadic attacks persist, underscoring the fragility of the situation.
As the pope prepares to deliver a message of peace, many residents hope his visit will help revive dialogue and draw renewed international attention to one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
Boluwatife Enome
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