Catholic Bishops Appeal to International Community Not to Punish CAR for Government’s “opening” to Russia

He adds, “Help is not really coming freely nowadays. But the population shouldn’t be punished because of the decisions made by the government.”

“My appeal to the international community is to keep on supporting the Central African population as it strives towards peace and development,” the member of the Society of African Missions (SMA) pleads.

Russia-CAR relations have reportedly “sustained admirable progress these several years”, with emphasis being laid on speeding up security cooperation between the two countries.

Further reports however indicate that even with Russia increasing influence in CAR, the government only wields authority in the capital Bangui, and is “largely absent from the provinces, where an array of rebels and other armed groups exercise their own form of predatory rule.”

In the visit to the ACN headquarters, Bishop Nongo-Aziagbia alongside Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui, and Bishop Bertrand Guy Richard Appora-Ngalanibé of the Catholic Diocese of Bambari, spoke of the “prophetic” role faith-based leaders played to promote peace and harmony in the country.

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The Catholic Bishops told ACN that the Church leadership in CAR, in particular, has been at the forefront of this effort to foster dialogue, hand-in-hand with leaders of other religions.

The Catholic Church leaders pointed out that a unique spirit of dialogue and cooperation between Christian and Muslim leaders set the foundations for peace in CAR, following a brutal civil war.

CAR’s civil war, which saw the Seleka militia fighting against the Anti-Balaka movement, could have developed into a full-scale war between Muslims and Christians, the Bishops observed.

In the February 18 ACN report, Bishop Nongo-Aziagbia says that the possible religious-driven conflict was avoided by the commitment of religious leaders themselves.

“Leaders across the religious denominations came together to work to sustain peace in the Central African Republic. The leaders of the Catholics, the Protestants and the Muslims, went around the world in a plea to make their voice heard. Unfortunately, their voices were not really understood and respected in regard to the geopolitical situation, because what was underneath was bigger than religion,” he explained.

Cardinal Nzapalainga agrees, and explains, “Religion does not divide us; religion connects us to one another. Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, we must love each other, because we are brothers. It is the devil that has pushed us to separate, but we believe that by taking on this leadership we are fulfilling our prophetic role, saying no to violence, yes to love, yes to peace, yes to reconciliation.”

The member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans/CSSp.) spoke of peace as “the foundation for development, so that people can envision a future different from war. That’s why our role is to be artisans of peace, to speak to hearts, to speak so that people can look each other in the eyes, discuss, and find solutions together. The solution is in dialogue.”

“Today, little by little, hope is being reborn. And this hope allows children to go to school, parents to go to the fields, traders to carry on their work, and the sick to receive medicine,” said Cardinal Nzapalainga.

Lauding the support that the Pontifical charity foundation gives to the Church in CAR in the fight for peace, Bishop Guy Richard is quoted as saying, “Those who help us, such as ACN, enable the priests, bishops, religious brothers and sisters throughout the country to continue their work.”

“The support from our benefactors goes beyond funds, focusing on pastoral work on the ground, and we would like, on behalf of God’s people in the CAR, to express our gratitude to ACN for its care and support,” the Catholic Church leader adds in the report ACN published on February 18.

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Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.