Douala, Cameroon, Jan 24, 2018 / 16:28 pm
A Cameroonian cardinal has spoken out against the recent use of military violence in the country's Southwest Region against Anglophone separatists, saying local forces need to respect human life.
"You don't bring peace by violence and violence begets violence," said Cardinal Christian Tumi, Archbishop Emeritus of Douala, in a recent video, according to Journal du Cameroun.
"I have heard about those destructions and killings…and I think that has to be condemned. So my opinion is simple, we as Cameroonians should respect lives and the life of everybody," he continued.
Military forces have been burning down villages in Cameroon's Southwest Region, seeking separatist forces. Most recently, the town of Kwa Kwa, Matoh and the surrounding area was set on fire, which destroyed homes and the rectory of the local Catholic church.