Will the Pope’s visit end the Ambazonia war of independence?
Some people argue that a symbolic visit to Bamenda promoted by the government of Cameroon signals that peace and normalcy are returning to Ambazonia. But symbolism alone cannot replace justice. For many who advocate for the rights and self-determination of the people of Southern Cameroons, the reality on the ground tells a very different story.
Ceremonies, public relations, or political theatre do not create peace. Peace is built on truth, justice, and accountability. The conflict that erupted in 2016 did not arise out of nowhere; it was the result of decades of political marginalisation, cultural suppression, and broken constitutional arrangements following the union of the British Southern Cameroons with La République du Cameroun. Teachers, lawyers, students, and civil society leaders raised legitimate grievances. Instead of meaningful dialogue and reforms, their concerns were met with repression.
Today, many of the root causes of the conflict remain unresolved. Communities have been displaced, villages destroyed, and thousands of lives lost. Families continue to live with trauma and uncertainty. In such a context, declaring that peace has returned simply because of a high-profile visit risks ignoring the suffering and grievances that gave rise to the crisis in the first place.
Justice must come before reconciliation. Accountability must precede stability. Without an honest acknowledgement of past wrongs, without independent investigations into abuses, and without genuine political dialogue about the future of the people of Southern Cameroons, any claim of “normalcy” will ring hollow to those who continue to live the consequences of the conflict.
True peace will not come from staged appearances or symbolic gestures. It will come from courage—the courage to confront the truth, to recognize the legitimate aspirations of a people, and to pursue a political solution rooted in justice, dignity, and respect for human rights.
Until those foundations are laid, the struggle for justice and self-determination in Ambazonia will continue to be seen by many not as a rejection of peace, but as a demand for a peace that is real, just, and lasting.
Akum George
