A fragile calm is emerging in Cameroon’s troubled Anglophone region after separatist groups announced a three-day halt to fighting ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Bamenda this week, raising cautious hopes for safety in an area long defined by violence.
The armed groups, operating under the Unity Alliance coalition, said the decision was a “safe travel passage” initiative meant to protect civilians and allow unhindered movement during the papal visit, which begins on Wednesday.
They described the gesture as a response to what they called the “profound spiritual importance” of the Pope’s presence and urged fighters under their command to suspend hostilities during the period. The Cameroonian government has yet to formally respond to the announcement.
The ceasefire comes after nearly a decade of conflict between separatist fighters and state forces in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, a crisis that has claimed at least 6,000 lives and displaced thousands more.
Pope Leo XIV is currently on a 11-day African tour, which has already taken him to Algeria. His itinerary also includes Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, with peace and reconciliation forming a central theme of the visit.
In Algeria, the Pope marked a historic moment as the first pontiff to visit the predominantly Sunni Muslim country, where he paid tribute to St Augustine during stops in Annaba and Hippo Regius.
Speaking during a visit to a nursing home run by Catholic nuns, he renewed his message against global violence, saying God’s heart is “torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies,” while stressing compassion for the vulnerable.
His upcoming stop in Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s North-West region, places him at the heart of the country’s separatist conflict zone, where tensions remain high despite past failed peace talks.
The Unity Alliance said its decision reflects “responsibility, restraint, and respect for human dignity,” adding that the visit should remain strictly “spiritual and pastoral” and not be politicised.
Although the government has not issued a direct response, authorities say security measures have already been reinforced across key locations scheduled for the papal programme.
The visit is expected to include a peace meeting at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, a symbolic effort by the Catholic Church to promote dialogue in one of Central Africa’s most volatile conflict zones.
