By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Separatists in the English-speaking region of Cameroon have announced a period of “safe travel passage”, pausing hostilities ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the conflict‑hit regions this week.
The three‑day measure was in recognition of the “profound spiritual importance” of the papal visit, leaders of several armed and secessionist groups said.
They also cited the need to safeguard civilian life in the papal’s visit which starts on Wednesday.
In a statement from Unity Alliance which brings the groups together, they said they would facilitate the movement of those celebrating the visit.
Violence that has lasted nearly a decade in the Anglophone regions has left at least 6,000 dead and many more forced from their homes.
Pope Leo is currently in Algeria for a second day as part of his 11-day tour of the continent, in which he will also visit Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
Peace is one of the major theme’s of his visit.
The pontiff arrived in Algeria on Monday, marking the first visit by any pope to the predominantly Sunni Muslim country.
It is also the birthplace of St Augustine, and Leo XIV is the first pontiff from the order to follow his teachings.
The Pope’s second country stop is Cameroon, where he will visit Bamenda, the capital of the country’s North-West region.
The city is regarded as the centre of Cameroon’s conflict between Anglophone separatists and state forces.
A national dialogue organised by the government in 2019 failed to end the violence in the country’s two English‑speaking regions.
Unity Alliance said the decision to pause the fighting “reflects a deliberate commitment to responsibility, restraint, and respect for human dignity, even in the context of ongoing conflict”.
While the Cameroonian, francophone-dominated government has not reacted to the announcement, authorities say appropriate measures had been taken to ensure security in cities scheduled to host the Pope.
