Cameroon: Only 'education and hope' can defeat terrorism

Ordination of priests in new cathedral funded by ACN in Maroua, Cameroon. © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

As attacks by Islamist militants continue in Cameroon, the bishop of the worst-affected diocese has stressed the importance of providing education and giving people hope as an antidote to extremism.

Jihadist terrorist group Boko Haram has been carrying out "sporadic attacks" in northern Cameroon, mainly to "steal food, livestock, money and even clothes", but they no longer have "heavy weapons", according to Bishop Bruno Ateba of Maroua-Mokolo.

Speaking with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Ateba said that the two parishes of his diocese which border Nigeria are the most impacted by the violence, suffering "two attacks per month because the terrorists are hungry".

He told ACN that weapons will not "solve the problem of Boko Haram".

He said: "The first thing is formation and work. If young people have prospects, it will be difficult for Boko Haram to recruit new members and brainwash them."

He added: "At night, most of the population along the border doesn't sleep at home - some people even sleep under trees. Most of the time, the army is there to protect the population, but the partisans of Boko Haram in Cameroon tell Boko Haram in Nigeria when the soldiers are not there."

"The people are afraid. When I go and visit the parishes I am accompanied by soldiers. I call them my guardian angels."

In the 2024 Global Terrorism Index report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Cameroon was ranked as the sixth country in Africa and 12th in the world worst affected by terrorism.

The bishop underlined the importance of ACN's help in his diocese, which has included the construction of a cathedral, the translation of the Bible to the local Mafa language, support for the formation of seminarians and other pastoral aid.

He concluded: "I would like to take the opportunity to express my deep gratitude to ACN and to the benefactors who support us in our pastoral work. It's not easy here, especially because of climatic conditions, poverty and terrorism, but ACN helps us enormously - whether that is in the formation priests and seminarians or with various projects."

With thanks to Sina Hartert

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org