As the dust settles on Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to Cameroon, and Bamenda in particular, former Bamenda-Bali MP Hon. Fobi Nchinda Simon is stepping into the moment with a blunt political assessment. Talking to www.hilltopvoices.com and other media platforms, he frames the visit not as an end in itself but as a narrow window for action, warning that early signs of renewed violence risk erasing its impact. According to his reading, the Pope’s message has raised expectations, but only a formal ceasefire, credible negotiations and a decisive political settlement can turn symbolism into substance.
Here is the full interview
Q: Honourable, what message
do you retain most strongly from the Pope’s visit?
FNS: The message is clear and urgent. Peace must come now, not
tomorrow. But peace without justice will not hold. What we heard, and what we
must act on, is a call for justice and equity in how this country is governed.
Good governance is not optional; it is central to resolving this crisis. And
beyond institutions, there is a demand for individual ethical responsibility.
Leaders, fighters, citizens, all of us must make a conscious commitment to
change the way we act.
Q: Who would you say were the main contributors to the
success of the visit, and how?
FNS: First, the Pope himself. He took a real risk coming here,
stepping into a space shaped by both state power and armed resistance. That
alone gave the visit weight.
Secondly, the Ambazonia fighters. Whether one agrees with them or not, their
posture on the ground, particularly around the ceasefire atmosphere, made the
visit possible.
Thirdly, Archbishop Andrew Nkea. His role cannot be overstated. He has held the
moral centre, bringing together religious actors and sustaining dialogue where
politics has failed.
And yes, the government must be mentioned. President Paul Biya allowed the
visit to happen, but we must also be honest. The same system bears
responsibility for the governance failures that created this crisis. So while
there is credit, there must also be scrutiny.
Q: Where do you suggest we
go from here?
FNS: The next step is not complicated, but it requires political
courage. First, the ceasefire atmosphere must be sustained and formalised. That
is the foundation. As you can already notice, hostilities have resumed with at
least three soldiers said to have fallen in the North West Region.
Second, we move into structured negotiations. That must begin with
confidence-building measures, including the release of prisoners of war and
detainees linked to the conflict.
Thirdly, the process must culminate in a clear political settlement. We are
talking about an Anglophone-Francophone agreement that addresses constitutional
arrangements. This is not just conflict management, it is about completing an
unfinished decolonisation process.
Q: Is there
anything you think the Pope should have said or done differently?
FNS: Within his mandate, he was measured and appropriate. He
avoided direct interference in state sovereignty, which is expected. But
politically, there are issues that must be confronted more directly. We must
talk about governance failures, corruption, and tribalism. These are not side
issues, they are central drivers of instability. We must also confront the
reality of neocolonial influence and the unfinished nature of our
decolonisation. External interests continue to shape internal outcomes, and
that must be part of the conversation if we are serious about lasting peace.
Q: Finally, where do we go
from here, concretely?
FNS: We begin with ourselves. Anglophones must rebuild unity of
purpose. Our divisions did not start today. From the plebiscite to the Mamfe
and Bamenda conferences, to Foumban, to the rise of the All-Anglophone
Conference, AAC and now the current fragmentation, we have lacked a coherent,
united position. That must change. From there, we consolidate the peace
message. Not as rhetoric, but as a structured national agenda. We commit to a
credible dialogue mechanism, one that is inclusive and not controlled by one
side. We prioritise security and civilian protection. The population must feel
safe again. Then reconstruction. Schools, hospitals, livelihoods. And finally,
inclusion and social cohesion. This crisis has broken trust across communities.
Rebuilding that trust is as important as any political agreement. If we fail to
act now, this visit will remain symbolic. If we act decisively, it can become
the turning point many have been waiting for.
