Pope's visit to Cameroon divides Catholic community
via SeneNews6 min read
The upcoming four-day visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon has sparked division within the country's Catholic community. Concerns have been raised that the visit could be used by President Paul Biya to improve his image following a contested re-election in October, which was met with deadly repression of protests. President Biya, 93, has been in power since 1982 and is the oldest head of state. Some Catholics fear the visit might legitimize his regime internationally. Influential Jesuit priest Ludovic Lado, known for his radical views, expressed his reservations on Facebook, noting the Pope's refusal of invitations from other leaders while accepting Biya's. Lado also sent a letter to the Vatican outlining his concerns but has since been instructed not to speak on the matter. Jean-Baptiste Homsi, a Catholic and opposition figure, wrote an open letter to Pope Leo XIV acknowledging that the visit could be perceived as an endorsement of the "dictatorial regime" and a "validation of electoral theft." However, Homsi, like many Cameroonian prelates, supports the visit, viewing it as an opportunity for the Pope to address those in power. Samuel Kleda, the Archbishop of Douala, stated that the visit is an opportunity for peace and transformation, and he also highlighted the plight of those imprisoned without trial after the post-election crisis. Archbishop Kleda has previously been critical of President Biya, as have other bishops. Conversely, Jean Mbarga, the Archbishop of Yaoundé, a pr
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadCulture Minister Amadou Ba commented on social media regarding the opposition's criticisms of the current government. He stated that for the first time in Senegal's history, the opposition is discussing a political crisis rather than issues such as corruption, overbilling, land spoliation, the sale of natural resources, power outages, high cost of living, or governance. The minister concluded his message with an ironic remark: "What a trial machallah!!" This statement comes amidst ongoing debates about the country's political and institutional situation, particularly following discussions surrounding the second reading of a bill to amend certain provisions of the Electoral Code.
Must ReadThe Takku Wallu Sénégal parliamentary group issued a statement denouncing what it views as a rushed procedure surrounding the second reading of the bill amending Article L29 and repealing Article L30 of the Electoral Code. The group stated that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye requested a second reading of the text, a suggestion previously made by Takku Wallu Sénégal. According to the statement, the President of the National Assembly of Senegal subsequently convened the Assembly's bureau, the conference of presidents, the Law Commission, and scheduled a plenary session for the following day. The parliamentary group considers this approach a "cavalier maneuver" and criticizes the procedure as contrary to the National Assembly's internal regulations, specifically citing a failure to respect the usual deadlines for examining the text. The statement also noted that despite observations made by some deputies, the President of the National Assembly maintained the adopted schedule. Takku Wallu Sénégal declared its refusal to be associated with what it terms an "abuse of power" and urged deputies to preserve the role and independence of the parliamentary institution. The parliamentary group concluded by stating that an institutional crisis is developing around this procedure and called for an end to political tensions related to this matter, in the "exclusive interest of the Senegalese people."
Must ReadNiger's military regime, which is hostile to Western countries, particularly France, announced on Friday the suspension of ten French media outlets. According to a statement read on national television, these outlets could "seriously jeopardize public order." The National Communication Observatory ONC stated that the suspended media, including France 24, RFI Radio France Internationale, France Afrique Media, LSI Africa, AFP Agence France-Presse, TV5 Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique, and Mediapart, are being suspended for "recurrent dissemination of content likely to seriously jeopardize public order, national unity, social cohesion, and the stability of the Republic's institutions." The ONC added that the execution of this decision is "immediate" and applies to "satellite packages, cable networks, digital platforms, websites, and mobile applications." Several Western media outlets have been suspended since a junta came to power in Niger in July 2023 following a coup d'état. RFI and France 24 were suspended days after the coup, and the British radio station BBC was suspended in December 2024. This decision by Niger comes days before a significant summit in Kenya between France and African countries. On Tuesday, Burkina Faso, an ally of Niger and neighboring Mali within the Alliance of Sahel States AES confederation, also banned the broadcast of TV5 Monde, having previously suspended several other Western media outlets.
Must ReadThe Malian government has announced its refusal to engage in dialogue with "armed terrorist groups," nearly two weeks after unprecedented attacks by jihadists and Tuareg rebels against the junta, and as the capital, Bamako, faces a new economic blockade. Mali is experiencing uncertainty following a coordinated offensive on April 25 and 26 by jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims JNIM, allied with Al-Qaeda, and the rebellion of the Azawad Liberation Front FLA, which is predominantly Tuareg. Since late April, jihadists have imposed a road blockade on Bamako, blocking several essential routes leading to the capital, which, like the rest of the landlocked country, relies on road imports. Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop stated that the Malian government does not consider dialogue with "lawless armed terrorist groups responsible for the tragic events our populations have experienced for years." He added that the FLA has "freely chosen to side with an extremist group recognized as terrorist by the United Nations," referring to the rebellion's coordination with the JNIM. Several towns and localities in the North are now under the control of jihadists and their FLA allies. Defense Minister Sadio Camara, a key figure in the junta, was killed in a suicide attack in Kati, a regime stronghold near the capital. He was replaced by junta leader Assimi Goïta, who now holds both presidential and ministerial roles. The blockade imposed by jihadists since April 30 continu