Advertisement

Freeing of Cameroonian Senator “a big sigh of relief, answered prayers”: Archbishop

Senator Regina Mundi freed in Cameroon's Bamenda Archdiocese on 31 May 2022 after a month in captivity. Credit: Courtesy Photo

The freeing of Senator Regina Mundi after being held captive for a month in Cameroon brings “a big sigh of relief” and God’s answer to “our prayers”, a Catholic Archbishop in the Central African nation has said.

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya who was addressing journalists in Bamenda on Tuesday, May 31 appealed for prayers for an end to the crisis in Cameroon’s anglophone regions.

The Senator in the Cameroon Upper House of Parliament was reportedly abducted on April 30 along Foncha Street in Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s Northwestern Region, while she was going to a wedding.

On May 31, a military operation in some separatists hideouts in Ashong, Batibo subdivision of the Northwestern region resulted in the safe release of Senator Mundi and other hostages, officials and State media including Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) have reported.

Reacting to the news of the Senator’s release from the monthlong captivity, Archbishop Nkea said, “We thank God as a Christian community for the release of Mama Regina Mundi. The news came to us as a big sigh of relief. We are very happy because God has answered our prayers.”

Advertisement

The Local Ordinary of Bamenda Archdiocese who doubles as the President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) added during the May 31 press conference, “We have been praying that she should not be sick, she should be healthy and she should be in good spirits. And seeing her in good spirits and looking healthy that even added to our joy.”

“It is a very significant thing for us because the coming back of Mama Regina Mundi to meet her children in the house, to take care of her grandchildren again is a sign of hope that there is no situation that is hopeless,” the Cameroonian Catholic Archbishop told journalists.

In a May 10 statement, Archbishop Nkea had appealed to the captors of Senator Mundi to have mercy on her and to allow her to go back home to her loved ones.

He said, “I am sending out this open appeal to those who are keeping Mrs. Regina Mundi to kindly show mercy on her and liberate her from captivity. To those who kidnapped her, Mrs. Mundi is a Senator, but I am appealing to them to remember that she is also many other things than being a Senator.”

“I appeal to anyone who has any influence over those holding Mrs. Mundi to return her to her family unhurt,” Archbishop Nkea said in his May 10 statement.

More in Africa

In the May 31 press conference, Archbishop Nkea appealed for prayers for an end to the crisis in Cameroon’s anglophone regions.

“While this crisis lasts, we continue to pray that hope should not be far from us and we know that our hope will not deceive us,” he said.

The Cameroonian Archbishop who was elected NECC President on April 30 added, “We know that sooner or later things will come back to normal. This is also a big sign.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.