Cameroon separatists to pause fighting ahead of Pope visit

The separatists say their decison reflects responsibility, restraint and respect for human dignity. Pope Leo in Africa: Cameroon separatists to pause fighting ahead of pontiff's visit Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Catholics in Cameroon are preparing for the pontiff's visit later which starts on Wednesday A Catholic worshipper at the Saint Joseph Catherdral in Bamenda, holding a Mass book with the image of the Pope on it. Only the worshippers hands and partial clothing is seen. Cameroon separatists to pause fighting ahead of Pope visit Anglophone separatists in Cameroon have announced a period of "safe travel passage" and halted fighting ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit to the conflict‑hit region this week. Leaders of several armed and secessionist groups said the three‑day measure was in recognition of the "profound spiritual importance" of the papal visit, which starts on Wednesday, and the need to safeguard civilian life. In a statement from Unity Alliance - which brings the groups together - they said they would facilitate the movement of those celebrating the visit. The government is yet to comment. A near-decade of violence in the English-speaking 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. Pope Leo is currently in Algeria for a second day as part of his , 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. He is now in Annaba - where the saint was a bishop - and in the afternoon, is expected to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint Augustine. Pope Leo visited the archaeological site of the ancient Hippo Regius in Annaba Pope standing on the left, shaking hands with a male scout. There are two others next to him. They are standing outdoors. Behind the pope is a man holding a camera up to his face. 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". Billboards displaying portraits of the Pope and Cameroonian President Paul Biya have appeared in Bamenda ahead of the visit Billboard in the centre, with slogan welcome to Cameroon, land of hope on the left and a ribbon acorss the lover half of the billboard in - green, red and yellow horizontal stripes. On the centre right is the Pope with his hands up, and next to him is the president. It added that the Pope's visit should remain "spiritual" and "pastoral" in nature, and warned against any politicisation of the event. 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. Pope Leo's visit to Bamenda is seen as a symbolic effort by the Catholic Church to promote peace and reconciliation. He is expected to hold a meeting for peace in the city's Saint Joseph's Cathedral. Officials said all sites to be attended by the Pope will be free of charge for visitors. Pope Leo's wide-ranging tour will include stops in 11 cities across the four countries. It is his second major foreign visit since being elected to the papacy last year, and reflects the importance of Catholicism in Africa. More than a fifth of the world's Catholics are in Africa, some 288 million people, according to figures from 2024. Map showing the African continent and the four countries that Leo XIV is visiting along with the dates of the visits. A young girl on the left wearing a gold sequinned dress and a beaded headdress. She is giving the pope - who is on the right and crouched down to her - a bouquet of red roses. He is smiling and wearing red. Partial shots of four men can be seen behind them. Leo becomes first Pope to visit Algeria at start of major Africa tour A woman with short hair and a patterned dress glances down. 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers A road with overgrown, dry grass on either side. At the end of the road (in the centre back) is a military vehicle and a rocket being launched. In the front right, is the back of a soldier watching it. The soldier is wearing military fatigues with a vest and a helmet. Cameroon 'military contractors' killed in Russia-Ukraine war - BBC confirms leaked message A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica The government usually refrains from commenting on the participation of its citizens in the conflict. Laura Blundell gives up her annual leave to volunteer with the charity Mercy Ships in West Africa. Cameroon's President Paul Biya, 93, won his eighth successive term last year in a disputed election. Electoral commission says Romuald Wadagni has won with over 94% of the vote with most ballots counted. The Democratic Alliance's new leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, admits the party's support is too narrow. BBC's Sarah Smith looks at how the president's most ardent supporters are reacting to his latest social media posts. Christian allies of the president call the AI-generated image offensive as Trump says he thought it showed him as a doctor. Italy's prime minister and the US president are close allies, but Trump has refused to apologise to the "very weak" Pope Leo XIV.