Cameroonian Government Lauds Catholic Church’s Contribution to Peace-Building ahead of Presidential Election

Responding to the minister’s remarks, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda clarified that the Bishops “came as men of God, carrying the hopes and concerns of the people.”

According to the NECC August 13 statement, Archbishop Nkea who serves as the president of NECC recalled the consistent positions of the Catholic Bishops in the country, who he said have expressed their calls for peace messages and pastoral letters.

He highlighted the message on the socio-economic situation of Cameroon, dated January 11, and the Pastoral Letter on the occasion of the presidential and regional elections of March 28, this year and said the Bishops expressed their position through the documents that were handed over to the minister.

Archbishop Nkea reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s non-partisan position when it comes to politics.

The Local Ordinary of Bamenda said that the Church is not taking sides but is “determined to continue its evangelization mission by promoting justice, reconciliation, and peace, serving all Cameroonians, sharing in their joys and hopes, as well as their sorrows and anxieties.”

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“To this end, the Church encourages the multiplication of consultation platforms with public institutions to strengthen cooperation in the service of the common good,” he said during the August 13 visit to the Unity Palace.

Individual Catholic Bishops in Cameroon have also voiced their desire for peace in the country, decrying behaviors likely to jeopardize peace-building efforts.

In his pastoral letter shared with ACI Africa on Tuesday, August 12, Archbishop Samuel Kleda of the country’s  Catholic Archdiocese of Douala denounced what he termed as “anti-gospel acts”, including corruption and bad governance that he says are causing discontent among Cameroonians as they prepare for October presidential election.

Archbishop Kleda said that the Central African nation is “shaken by multiple evils that afflict all social strata,” and is in a great need for peace, justice and reconciliation especially during this electioneering period.

“The malaise that is eating away at our country at the present time, and which is causing widespread discontent in the hearts of citizens in this pre-electoral period, has its roots in the anti-gospel acts that are being instituted in the management of our country,” he said.

The Cameroonian Catholic Archbishop also highlighted the absence of democracy, widespread poverty and unemployment, illegal immigration, poor road network, difficulty in accessing water and electricity as additional acts causing discontent among his compatriots. 

In his pastoral letter addressed to Clergy, women and men Religious, and the Laity, Archbishop Kleda also highlights the “nebulous management of oil,” mining injustices, and security crisis in the country’s northern region as additional factors behind discontent. 

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.