Pope Leo XIV brings global spotlight to Cameroon conflict

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV visited Bamenda, Cameroon, a hotspot of the Anglophone separatist conflict, condemning war and exploitation by "a handful of tyrants" and urging peace and interfaith cooperation.
• The pope presided over a peace meeting with local religious leaders, emphasizing the dangers of manipulating religion for military and political gain and calling for a decisive change away from conflict and exploitation.
• The Anglophone conflict, rooted in colonial history and political marginalization, has killed over 6,000 people and displaced more than 600,000 since separatists launched a rebellion in 2017.
• Despite a temporary three-day ceasefire declared by separatist fighters for the pope’s visit, peace talks remain stalled, with ongoing violence and skepticism among locals about meaningful progress.
• Cameroon’s rich natural resources have fueled the conflict, with profits often reinvested in weapons, perpetuating instability; international actors have been implicated in supporting separatist forces.