Insecurity in Central African Republic Behind “evangelical fragility, poverty”: Prelate

Amid these challenges, the 50-year-old Prelate who is the President of the Central African Episcopal Conference (CECA) affirms that “the Catholic Church is fully inserted in the general context of socio-political life in the Central African Republic.”

Since gaining independence in 1960, CAR has experienced years of violent conflicts. In 2012, the largely Muslim alliance, Seleka, launched an attack against the government leading to counter-attacks by anti-Balaka coalitions of Christian fighters.

The two rebel groups, which control vast regions of the country, faced off again in March 2013 when the Seleka rebels seized the country’s capital, Bangui and staged a coup, a move that was countered by anti-Balaka militias. 

The back-and-forth revenge attacks between the two religion-aligned groups backed by other militias introduced a religious angle that was previously absent in the crisis.

In April 2014, the UN Security Council established a peacekeeping force dubbed United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Its tenure to protect civilians and disarm militia groups is expected to end on November 15, 2020.

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Despite the February 2019 Political Accord for Peace and Reconciliation between the CAR government and 14 rebel groups, the country continues to experience frequent clashes.

Despite insecurity challenges, Bishop Nongo-Aziagbia says, the Church in the country “continues to courageously engage in evangelical witness by accompanying the faithful on their spiritual journey.”

“Being a Christian in such circumstances means continuing to keep the lamp of hope burning – the lamp of love, forgiveness and reconciliation,” the Bishop says, and adds, “Faith invites us all to identify signs of hope and to be involved in the positive transformation of our society. We must keep on living in hope, as Saint Paul urges us to do.”

Towards interreligious dialogue, the Platform of Religious Confessions in the Central African Republic (PCRC) is a “place where commitment and solidarity of the Catholic Church are expressed alongside Muslims and Protestant communities for social cohesion, respect of others and universal brotherhood,” the Central African Bishop says.

Ahead of the World Mission Sunday slated for October 18, Bishop Nongo-Aziagbia who has been shepherding the people of God in the Diocese of Bossangoa since May 2012 invites the faithful in the country to participate in the various activities that the Church leadership has prepared to mark the missionary month of October.