Interreligious dialogue and peace in Mokong: Fr François Awono Ntsongo received by His Majesty Bello Bissadou, Lamido of Mokong

Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo — Canton of Mokong · Mokong, 21 September 2026

A few days after taking part in the interreligious dialogue workshop of the Spiritan Conference of Circumscriptions of Africa and the Islands (SCCAI), held in Nairobi from 6 to 10 September 2026, Fr François Awono Ntsongo, C.S.Sp., was received in audience on Monday 21 September 2026 by His Majesty Bello Bissadou, Lamido of Mokong. The meeting with the highest traditional authority of the canton is part of efforts to promote living together and interreligious dialogue in the Far North of Cameroon. At the heart of the conversation: the creation of a Canton Committee for Interreligious Dialogue and Development.

A gesture of respect

“As he is the supreme authority of our area, it was only right to come first for his counsel and his blessing. You do not build peace without the chief of the land,” said Fr François. The two men spoke for more than an hour in a very fraternal atmosphere.

“What unites us is stronger than what divides us”

The conversation underlined how much Islam and the Catholic faith — the two main religious confessions of the canton of Mokong — hold in common: faith in one merciful God, the importance of prayer, almsgiving and fasting, the sense of hospitality, and the fundamental value of peace.

“We live together, we share the same markets, the same fields, the same times of mourning and the same joys. If there is a committee for dialogue and development, it must include all the religions of our canton. It is together that we will develop Mokong,” the Cameroonian Spiritan missionary told His Majesty.

His Majesty Bello Bissadou welcomed the initiative, calling it “salutary and in keeping with Mokong’s tradition of tolerance”. He gave his full support to setting up this inclusive committee, which will bring together Muslims, Catholics and Christians of other confessions, as well as the local traditional religions.

Next steps

The other religious leaders of the canton will now be consulted, followed by a wider meeting to set the committee’s concrete objectives: joint social action, conflict management and the education of young people in peace.

A fine seed of peace has been sown in Mokong.