Separatist groups in Cameroon have announced a temporary halt in hostilities, granting a three-day “safe travel passage” ahead of the visit of Pope Leo XIV, which begins on Wednesday, April 15.
The decision, coordinated by the Unity Alliance, is intended to allow civilians and worshippers to participate safely in the papal visit, which leaders described as holding “profound spiritual importance.” The Government has yet to formally respond.
The Pope is expected to visit Bamenda, the epicentre of the country’s Anglophone conflict, where he will lead a peace-focused engagement, including a gathering at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral. His broader 11-day African tour also includes stops in Algeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
Cameroon’s conflict, now nearing a decade, has claimed over 6,000 lives and displaced thousands. A national dialogue held in 2019 failed to resolve tensions between separatists and state forces.
The ceasefire is being framed as a gesture of restraint and respect for human dignity, with separatist leaders urging that the visit remain strictly spiritual and not politicized. Authorities, meanwhile, have indicated that security arrangements are in place, with all events open to the public free of charge.
The visit is widely seen as a symbolic effort by the Catholic Church to advance peace and reconciliation in one of Africa’s most enduring conflicts.