By Prof. Januarius Asongu, author of Forced Unity 

The Southern Cameroons struggle is often described as a political conflict. But in reality, it is much more than that. It is also a deep moral and spiritual crisis—one that raises an important question: What should the Church do when people are suffering injustice?

For many years, churches in the Southern Cameroons—especially the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), and the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC)—played a central role in society. They built schools, hospitals, and helped shape the identity of the people. These institutions were not just places of worship; they were pillars of dignity, education, and community life.

Because of this strong history, many people expected the Church to stand firmly with them when the crisis turned violent in 2016. As lawyers and teachers protested marginalization, and as the situation escalated into violence—with villages destroyed, people killed, arrested, and displaced—the expectation was that the Church would speak clearly and courageously.

But that did not fully happen.

Instead, much of the Church leadership chose a path of caution. Their messages focused on peace, dialogue, and national unity. While these are important values, they often avoided directly naming the injustice and suffering experienced by the people. This created a sense of disappointment and even betrayal among many in the Southern Cameroons, who felt that the Church had failed to stand with them in their darkest moment.

Why did this happen?

One key reason is fear and dependency. Over time, many church institutions became dependent on the state for their survival—whether through legal recognition, protection, or the ability to operate schools and hospitals. Speaking out too strongly against the government could risk losing these vital institutions. Faced with this reality, many leaders chose to protect what they had built rather than confront power directly.

However, this choice raises a serious moral concern. According to the Christian faith, the Church is not only called to preserve itself—it is called to stand for truth and justice. The Bible consistently shows that God identifies with those who are suffering. From the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt to the life of Jesus Christ, the message is clear: God is on the side of the oppressed.

The Exodus story, in particular, provides a powerful example. When the Israelites were suffering under Pharaoh, God did not call for silence or passive acceptance. Instead, God commanded, “Let my people go.” This was not a request for minor reforms—it was a call for freedom. In the same way, the cries of Southern Cameroons communities for dignity and justice should be understood as a moral demand, not simply a political rebellion.

The Southern Cameroons struggle shows how some religious teachings have been misunderstood or misused. For example, the Bible verse in Romans 13, which calls for obedience to governing authorities, has often been used to encourage submission. But this teaching assumes that leaders are just and act for the good of the people. When leaders become a source of fear and violence, this passage cannot be used to justify silence. In fact, Christian history shows that true faith sometimes requires resisting unjust authority.

While many official church institutions remained cautious, a different kind of Church has emerged from the struggle.

First, there is what can be called the “Church of the suffering.” This includes people in prisons, refugee camps, and destroyed communities who continue to hold onto their faith despite immense hardship. In places like detention centers, many believers experience their faith not in comfort, but in suffering. Their endurance reflects the story of Christ himself, who suffered unjustly yet remained faithful.

Second, there is the diaspora Church—Southern Cameroonians living abroad in Europe, North America, and other parts of Africa. Free from the direct control of the Cameroonian state, they have become some of the strongest voices calling for justice. Through protests, advocacy, and international engagement, they are helping to keep global attention on the struggle.

Even beyond the Church, civil society groups have stepped into the gap. Organizations such as the Alliance for Peace & Justice have taken on a moral leadership role, advocating for the rights and dignity of the Southern Cameroons people on international platforms. In many ways, they are doing what the Church was expected to do—speaking truth and defending the oppressed.

The central message of this reflection is simple but powerful: there can be no true peace without justice.

When institutions remain neutral in the face of injustice, they risk becoming part of the problem. Silence, even when intended as caution, can be interpreted as support for oppression. The Church, therefore, faces a critical challenge—to rediscover its true mission.

That mission is not only to preach peace but to stand with those who suffer, to speak truth even when it is costly, and to defend human dignity without compromise.

In the end, the real Church is not defined by buildings, titles, or institutions. It is found among the people—in the courage of those who endure, the voices that speak out, and the communities that refuse to give up hope.

Their struggle, their faith, and their resilience are the clearest expression of what the Church is meant to be: a living witness to justice, truth, and freedom.

*This is a brief summary of the critique of the Church in the book: Forced Unity: A Critical Appraisal of the Ambazonia Struggle for Emancipation and Self-Determination