As Bamenda and Cameroon settles after the landmark visit of Pope Leo XIV, former Bamenda-Bali MP Hon. Fobi Nchinda Simon is narrowing the moment to a single imperative which is that to translate moral momentum into a structured ceasefire and negotiations, or risk sliding back into violence.
In an evaluation of the visit interview with Hilltopvoices.com, Hon Fobi Simon frames the Pope’s message as a catalyst rather than a conclusion.
“Peace must come now, not tomorrow,” he says, but quickly anchors that call in practical steps, arguing that the crisis will not yield to symbolism or appeals alone.
At the centre of his proposal is the consolidation of what he describes as a fragile ceasefire atmosphere. The urgency is amplified by renewed hostilities, with reports that at least three soldiers have been killed across the North West shortly after the Pope’s departure. For Fobi, this is evidence that without structure, calm moments dissipate quickly.
“The next step is not complicated, but it requires political courage,” he insists. That step begins with formalising the ceasefire and stabilising the security environment as a basis for engagement.
From there, he advocates immediate transition to structured negotiations, rejecting what he terms performative dialogue. He calls for concrete confidence-building measures, particularly the release of detainees and prisoners linked to the conflict, as a signal of seriousness from all sides.
Beyond the immediate, Hon Fobi Simon outlines a longer-term political outcome which includes an Anglophone-Francophone agreement anchored in constitutional reform. He presents this not as an optional political discussion but as the core of the crisis.
Pope Leo XIV in Bamenda
“This is not just conflict management,” he argues. “It is about completing an unfinished decolonisation process.”
While acknowledging the role played by multiple actors in enabling the Pope’s visit, including religious leadership and the temporary restraint on the ground, Hon Fobi maintains that responsibility now shifts squarely to political actors. Governance failures, he notes, remain unresolved and continue to fuel instability.
His solution, however, is not limited to state action. He calls for a parallel internal reset among Anglophones, urging unity of purpose after decades of fragmentation from the plebiscite era through successive political movements. Without that cohesion, he warns, any negotiation risks being weakened from the outset.
The proposed pathway is sequential and deliberate. He mentions the need to stabilise the ceasefire, initiate credible negotiations, implement confidence-building measures, and move towards a binding political settlement, while simultaneously prioritising civilian protection and reconstruction.
According to Hon Fobi Nchinda, the margin for delay is narrow. The Pope’s visit, he suggests, has created a rare convergence of attention and expectation. Whether it becomes a turning point or another missed opportunity will depend entirely on what follows in the coming weeks.
Full interview coming soon
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
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