Cameroon separatists to pause fighting ahead of Pope visit

Cameroon separatists 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.

Unity Alliance said they would facilitate the movement of those celebrating the visit and that 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". The government is yet to comment. A near-decade of violence in the English-speaking regions has left at least 6,000 dead.

Pope Leo's second country stop is Cameroon, where he will visit Bamenda, the capital of the country's North-West region. He is expected to hold a peace meeting at the city's Saint Joseph's Cathedral. Officials said all sites the Pope will visit will be free of charge for visitors.