Pope Leo XIV is set to make a historic visit to Cameroon’s conflict-ridden anglophone region this week, amid renewed calls for peace in an area plagued by nearly a decade of violence.

The American pontiff is expected to arrive in the Central African country on Wednesday, with a planned visit to Bamenda — the epicentre of the separatist crisis — where he is scheduled to deliver a strong message on reconciliation and an end to hostilities.

Residents in the region have expressed cautious optimism ahead of the visit. “As the pope puts his feet on the soil of Bamenda, we should have peace. All the killing, the kidnapping should stop,” said Giovanni Mbuna, a local who recounted being abducted by separatists four years ago.

The conflict, which began in 2016 following protests by teachers and lawyers over perceived marginalisation by the French-speaking majority, has since escalated into a full-blown insurgency. Separatist groups declared an independent state of “Ambazonia,” triggering violent clashes with government forces.

According to the United Nations, more than 6,000 people — mostly civilians — have been killed since 2017, while over 330,000 have been internally displaced. An estimated 100,000 others have fled to neighbouring Nigeria.

Despite recent claims by authorities that violence has reduced, residents and rights groups say insecurity remains widespread, with continued reports of kidnappings, killings, and extortion by armed groups.

Governor of the North-West region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, maintained that “the region is enjoying progressive peace in almost all the communities,” although testimonies from locals suggest otherwise.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the crisis, with both separatist fighters and security forces accused of abuses. In one of the most notable incidents, Cameroonian troops were convicted over the 2020 killing of at least 21 civilians in Ngarbuh.

Analysts say the pope’s visit could provide a rare opportunity to revive stalled peace efforts. Archbishop of Bamenda, Samuel Kleda, expressed hope that the visit would encourage dialogue.

“The pope’s visit will soften the hearts of the extremists so that we can find common ground and reach a peaceful solution,” he said.

Legal experts have also stressed that lasting peace would require addressing deeper structural issues. Lawyer Joseph Fru Awah noted that “the root causes” of the conflict — including marginalisation and identity concerns — must be resolved.