As anticipation builds for the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, a coalition of women from the conflict-hit North West and South West regions is urging the Pontiff to look beyond formal platforms and listen to voices often left out of high-level engagements.
In an open letter addressed to the Pope, the South West North West Women’s Task Force (SNWOT) frames his visit as a critical moral moment for a country grappling with nearly a decade of armed conflict. The group, made up of mothers, caregivers, peacebuilders and community leaders, says the success of the visit will depend not only on what is said, but on who is heard.
“We warmly welcome your upcoming visit to Cameroon,” the letter states, before outlining the depth of the crisis that has “fractured lives, displaced families, and eroded hope” across the two regions.
The women position themselves not merely as victims of the conflict, but as central actors in efforts to contain and resolve it. They detail years of grassroots intervention, mediating between divided communities, advocating for the return to school, supporting displaced families and participating in dialogue initiatives at both national and international levels.
Yet, they note, these contributions have largely gone unrecognised.
“We have engaged… often without recognition, resources, or formal inclusion,” the letter reads, drawing attention to what they describe as a persistent gap between those shaping peace efforts on the ground and those represented in official processes.
Their appeal to the Pope is direct and specific.
They call on him to “speak with clarity and compassion” on the situation in the Anglophone regions, aligning their expectations with his past interventions in global crises such as Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon and Sudan. Beyond statements, they urge him to encourage inclusive dialogue that addresses root causes, support calls for ceasefire and civilian protection, and advocate for the meaningful inclusion of women and community actors in peace processes.
At the centre of their message is a broader critique of how conflict narratives are constructed.
In many high-level encounters, including those planned during the Pope’s stop in Bamenda, representation has leaned heavily towards institutional, religious and predominantly male voices. While these actors carry authority, the women argue that they do not fully capture the lived realities of communities most affected by the crisis.
The absence of grassroots perspectives, particularly those of women, risks narrowing both diagnosis and solution.
For SNWOT, the Pope’s visit presents a rare opportunity to correct that imbalance. As a global moral authority, his words carry weight beyond the immediate setting. But equally, they suggest, his willingness to listen could shape the credibility and impact of his message.
“We believe that your visit should be more than a moment, it should become a turning point,” the letter emphasises.
The statement closes with a line that encapsulates both the appeal and the argument: “There can be no sustainable peace without women.”
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
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