Pope’s Visit to Cameroon Brings Hope Amid Ongoing Separatist Conflict

Caro Bih has endured the brutal realities of Cameroon’s separatist conflict firsthand. Once kidnapped, chained and held for ransom by separatist fighters, she has watched as relatives were killed, jailed or abducted. Her family home was razed to the ground.

Now, like millions in Cameroon, she sees a glimmer of hope in Pope Leo XIV’s arrival on Wednesday as part of his four-nation Africa tour.

“We have been praying ceaselessly for the conflict to end, to no avail,” said Bih, a 52-year-old mother of six and nurse by training. Speaking from Bamenda, the epicenter of the violence, she added: “We want the pope to intercede for us. I strongly believe his coming will help heal my wounds.”

The papal visit comes at a critical time for Cameroon, which is still reeling from a disputed presidential election that left dozens dead as 93-year-old Paul Biya, the world’s oldest president, extended his decades-long rule. The government has framed the Pope’s visit as a moment of national unity for the country, which is divided along ethnic lines and ruled by a Francophone administration.

In a significant development, separatist groups announced Tuesday they would pause fighting for three days to allow safe travel for the pope, civilians, and dignitaries. This temporary ceasefire highlights the potential impact of the papal visit on the conflict.

A Neglected Crisis

Cameroon’s western regions have been engulfed in fighting since 2017, when English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion with the goal of breaking away from the French-speaking majority and establishing an independent state. The conflict, described by humanitarian groups as one of the world’s most neglected crises, has claimed thousands of lives.

The Pope will preside over a peace meeting on Thursday in Bamenda with community leaders and celebrate Mass at the local airport, bringing international attention to the conflict zone.

However, some critics worry the visit could inadvertently legitimize the Biya administration, which has been accused of human rights abuses and refusing meaningful dialogue.

“I would caution the pope against allowing the regime to exploit his presence to mask the pain of profound historical injustices with empty appeals to peace and unity,” said Benjamin Akih, a U.S.-based Cameroonian activist and member of the Council for the Sovereignty of Cameroon.

Eric Chinje, who leads the Project Cameroon diaspora democracy group, suggested the pope might avoid directly criticizing those determined to maintain power, referring to Biya’s prolonged rule. “The visit has more to do with the pope’s global evangelical mission than with the fate and future of Cameroon,” Chinje said.

Catholic Church Caught in the Crossfire

The Catholic Church itself has not been spared from the violence. The Rev. John Berinyuy Tatah was kidnapped by separatists in November alongside five fellow clergy and held for two weeks “cut off from the world.”

Despite this trauma, Tatah believes the pope will plant seeds that could heal Cameroon. “The cry of every Cameroonian is for the pope to help us to mediate for dialogue in the ongoing crisis,” said Tatah, who plans to attend a papal Mass.

Beyond the separatist conflict, Cameroon also battles Boko Haram extremists who launch cross-border attacks from Nigeria, often targeting military posts and villages.

According to the UN’s World Food Program, more than 3.3 million people affected by conflict in Cameroon struggle to find enough food, with families skipping meals, selling livestock, or taking on debt to survive.

Voices for Peace

Yeeika Desmond Nangsinyuy, a spoken-word artist who uses his art to advocate against violence, hopes the papal visit will address the country’s collective trauma. He continues his performances despite being abducted by separatists in 2024 and told to stop.

“I want him to speak directly to the pain of families torn apart by conflict, and to inspire renewed hope that peace is possible,” Nangsinyuy said.

The human cost of the conflict is evident in stories like Bih’s. Only two of her children remain in school. The others work on farms, at construction sites, or washing clothes to support the family. Their monthly income amounts to about $53, barely enough to feed them.

In 2024, Bih abandoned physiotherapy and medicines for a stroke she suffered while fleeing conflict multiple times. She now relies on herbal remedies.

“I had dreamt of seeing my children become doctors, magistrates and so on,” she said quietly. “Now their future is uncertain.”

Her 9-year-old daughter, Lydiane, had to drop out of school to help take care of her siblings. “I miss school,” the girl said. She had wanted to become an accountant.

Despite all she has endured, Bih remains hopeful that the pope’s visit will mark a turning point for Cameroon and her family’s fortunes.

“We believe he will be a turning point,” she said.