Paul Biya called to resolve the Conflict in S/Cameroons ahead of Pope’s Visit
Renowned Cameroonian historian and peace and conflict analyst Prof. Willibroad Dze-Ngwa has called on President Paul Biya to release political prisoners and initiate an inclusive national dialogue to help resolve the Anglophone crisis ahead of the expected visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon.
In an open letter addressed to the president, Dze-Ngwa argued that the upcoming papal visit presents a rare diplomatic opportunity for Cameroon to demonstrate commitment to peace and reconciliation.
According to the scholar, global attention will be focused on Cameroon during the Pope’s visit, and the government could use the moment to advance meaningful steps toward resolving the long-running conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions.
“Your Excellency, history remembers leaders not only for the power they exercised but also for the moments when they chose magnanimity over rigidity and reconciliation over division,” Dze-Ngwa wrote.
He suggested that a presidential clemency initiative timed to coincide with the papal visit could signal a willingness to open a new chapter for the country.
“A presidential clemency initiative timed to coincide with the Papal visit would send a powerful message that Cameroon is ready to turn a new page—one defined by inclusive peacebuilding, national healing, and sustainable statebuilding,” he added.
Dze-Ngwa noted that such a gesture would not undermine justice or accountability but could help create conditions for restorative approaches that prioritise healing, reintegration, and rebuilding trust between the state and citizens.
The call comes as discussions continue about the fate of several political prisoners linked to the Anglophone crisis.
Among the cases drawing international attention is that of journalist Tsi Conrad, who has been imprisoned for more than nine years in Kondengui Central Prison after his arrest during the early stages of the crisis in 2016. Conrad recently wrote to Pope Leo XIV, appealing for the pontiff to advocate for the release of detained journalists and political prisoners during his visit to Cameroon.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit Cameroon between April 15 and 18, with a planned stop in the North-West Region, one of the two Anglophone regions affected by armed conflict since 2016.
Will this government just listen to the voice of reason just for once and let the blôœdshed reduce in the country???
BN /MMINews
