Cameroon: Catholic Church calls for “end to a useless war”

His Lordship Abraham Kome, President of the National Episcopal Conference in Cameroon has called on all Cameroonians and the government in particular to uphold the legacy of Christian Cardinal Tumi, including his legacy of peace and justice.

Addressing hundreds of mourners Tuesday, April 20, at the burial mass for late Cardinal Tumi at Saint Peter and Paul’s Cathedral in Douala, Bishop Abraham Kome called for an “…end to the useless war”.

To the bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon, Cardinal Tumi worked for peace, justice and reconciliation .

“Would Cameroonians abandon the key tenets of Cardinal Tumi?” He questioned as hundreds of Christians applauded him for addressing key issues affecting the lives of Cameroonians.

To archbishop Samuel Kleda of the metropolitan archdiocese of Douala, each Cameroonian in one way or the other is responsible for the insecurity reigning in Cameroon today.

“Cardinal Tumi wanted to see a country of peace and justice but he has died when the country is in insecurity,” Kleda said.

He regrets that injustice, insecurity, tribalism, corruption and all sorts of vices have overwhelmed the country.

In the same vain, Philip Cardinal Oudrago, archbishop of Ougadogou, Burkina Faso and president of Association of Bishops and Cardinals in Africa and Madagascar in a testimony of the good works of Cardinal Tumi, questions why war and insecurity have been the order of the day in Africa despite the preaching of peace dished out by men of God like Cardinal Tumi.

His Lordship Bishop Abraham Kome remembered how Cardinal Tumi despite his advancing age continued to participate in activities of the National Episcopal Conference in Cameroon. An attachment to the work of God demonstrated by Cardinal Tumi as confirmed by Archbishop Samuel Kleda of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Douala.

“Cardinal Tumi will always find time to pray and meditate even the day he is to travel very early,” he said.

Besides having a fulfilled spiritual life, Cardinal Tumi’s social works as a priest did not go unnoticed by his spiritual son Archbishop Samuel Kleda.

“The doors of the cardinal were always open for people of all races, sex and religion. He never had a bank account of his own. He helped the poor,” said Kleda.

As the hands of death snatched Cardinal Tumi, the archbishop of the Douala says no tribute paid to him will make meaning if his legacies of peace and fight against social injustices are not upheld by people individually and the country as a collective body.


Mbatho Ntan.