Overview
- In Yaoundé on Wednesday, Pope Léon XIV urged leaders to “break the chains of corruption” and to uphold human rights and the rule of law in a speech to state authorities.
- He is slated to travel to Bamenda on Thursday to deliver a peace message and celebrate Mass, after separatist groups announced a three-day truce to allow safe passage.
- Bamenda’s airport, closed since 2019 because of the conflict, was renovated for the visit and will remain open, which could improve access to the region.
- Crowds lined the roads to welcome him in the capital, and a stadium Mass is scheduled in Douala on Friday with hundreds of thousands of worshippers expected.
- The visit comes during a conflict that the UN says has killed at least 6,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, as some critics say meeting President Paul Biya risks boosting his standing after a contested 2025 election.