Pope Leo Visits Conflict-Ridden North-West Cameroon

On the fourth day of his Apostolic Journey across Africa, Pope Leo XIV visited Bamenda in Cameroon’s conflict-ridden North-West region, where he addressed the ongoing Anglophone crisis and called for immediate action toward peace.

Speaking at a peace meeting held at the Cathedral of St Joseph, the Pope emphasized that the time for change is “today and not tomorrow, now and not in the future,” urging an end to the decade-long conflict that has devastated the region since 2016.

The Anglophone crisis, rooted in separatist efforts by Cameroon’s English-speaking minority to establish an independent state in the North-West and South-West regions, has resulted in widespread violence, displacement, and loss of life. According to reports, the conflict has left at least 6,000 people dead and forced many more from their homes.

During his visit, Pope Leo XIV denounced the destruction caused by war, stating that “the masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild.” He criticized the global imbalance in resources, noting that “billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”

The Pope also warned that “the world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” linking the prolongation of conflicts to the interests of those who profit from instability. He observed that those who exploit Africa’s natural resources often reinvest their gains into weapons, thereby perpetuating cycles of violence.