Your Holiness, women are the heart of the family and the foundation of society. When women suffer, the suffering reverberates through generations. In this Jubilee spirit of mercy and renewal, we entrust our plea to your pastoral care and prayerful intercession, that truth may illuminate the path to reconciliation, justice may restore trust, and peace may take lasting root in our land.
By Dr. Patience Abiedu for the Women of Ambazonia
To His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV
Your Holiness,
With profound respect and filial devotion, we acknowledge the anticipated Apostolic Visit of Your Holiness to Cameroon in March or April 2026. In this moment of pastoral significance, I write on behalf of the women of the former British Southern Cameroons, also known as Ambazonia.
We are mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and faithful members of our communities who continue to carry the deepest wounds of the protracted conflict that escalated in late 2017. While the attention of the international community has been drawn to other global crises, the suffering of civilians in the “Anglophone” regions of Cameroon remains acute and, too often, overlooked.
The historical trajectory of the former British Southern Cameroons — from its status as a United Nations Trust Territory under British administration to the reunification of 1 October 1961 — is well documented. Over the decades, concerns have been expressed within our communities regarding political marginalization, the progressive erosion of constitutional guarantees, and structural inequalities. In recent years, the humanitarian consequences of the conflict have been devastating. Independent reports indicate substantial loss of life, destruction of villages, widespread internal displacement, refugee flows into neighboring countries, large numbers of detainees, and hundreds of thousands of children deprived of access to education. Women and girls have borne a disproportionate share of this suffering, facing heightened risks of violence, exploitation, trauma, and the fragmentation of family life.
Your Holiness, your pastoral presence in Cameroon represents a singular moral and spiritual opportunity to encourage healing, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to justice. The Church, as a mother and teacher, has long stood as a voice for the voiceless and a defender of human dignity. We humbly ask that, during and following your visit, you lend your moral authority to the urgent pursuit of a just and lasting resolution to this crisis.
We believe that authentic and sustainable peace can only emerge through dialogue grounded in truth, justice, and mutual recognition. A future in which La République du Cameroun and Ambazonia coexist peacefully as good neighbors — in a spirit of respect for human dignity and the rule of law — is, in our view, essential to long-term stability in the region.
The violence affecting the “Anglophone” regions must cease, so that peace, security, and the common good may be restored for all who inhabit these territories.
On behalf of the women and families of the former British Southern Cameroons, we respectfully present the following appeals:
- An Immediate Ceasefire and De-escalation of Military Operations
We call for renewed efforts to secure a cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilian populations, including the reduction of military operations in residential communities. - An Independent and Credible International Fact-Finding Mechanism
We respectfully request support for impartial investigations into reported incidents of violence in locations such as Pinyin, Ngarbuh, Guzang, Kumba, and Mautu, with accountability pursued in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law. - Expanded and Unimpeded Humanitarian Assistance
We urge the facilitation of humanitarian access for internally displaced persons, refugees, and vulnerable rural communities, especially women and children who remain at heightened risk. - Respect for Due Process and the Review of Conflict-Related Detentions
We appeal for the release, or fair and transparent judicial review, of individuals detained in connection with the crisis, consistent with international legal standards and the principles of justice. - Inclusive and Good-Faith Dialogue
We respectfully request encouragement for meaningful and inclusive negotiations between the parties, without preconditions, building upon previous mediation initiatives, including the Swiss-facilitated process, and guided by a sincere commitment to reconciliation.
Your Holiness, women are the heart of the family and the foundation of society. When women suffer, the suffering reverberates through generations. In this Jubilee spirit of mercy and renewal, we entrust our plea to your pastoral care and prayerful intercession, that truth may illuminate the path to reconciliation, justice may restore trust, and peace may take lasting root in our land.
We trust that your Apostolic Visit will serve as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for healing among all communities affected by this conflict.
With profound respect and in filial devotion,
Dr. Patience Abiedu
On behalf of the Women of the Former British Southern Cameroons ( Ambazonia)
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