Italian Catholic Missionary Survives Second Mine Explosion in Central African Republic

This is the second time that the missionary has stumbled upon a mine, Fathers of Betharram (from the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bétharram) tell Agenzia Fides, and add, “It happened only two years ago, also that time a few kilometers from Niem. Also on that occasion, Father Arialdo was unharmed, while a third person, who was in the missionary's jeep, died as a result of the impact.”

Local authorities have said that the mine that hit the Niem mission car was placed by rebels from the Coalition des patriotes pour le Changement (CPC), a formation born in December 2020 from the union of six armed groups, under the aegis of CAR’s former President François Bozizé.

Another Italian missionary, the Carmelite Fr. Norberto Pozzi, was seriously injured in a February 10 mine along the Bozoum-Bocaranga road.

Fr. Norberto, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers, was injured on February 10 when the car he was traveling in drove over a mine, causing it to explode, on his way to Bocaranga, a city that is northwest of CAR’s capital, Bangui.

Following the explosion, the Catholic Missionary Priest underwent several grueling surgeries in CAR, Uganda, and finally in Italy where he was flown to have his leg amputated in an operation that was described as “very complicated”.

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Details later emerged that Fr. Norberto had been involved in three other separate attempts on his life, including a shooting. 

Fr. Norberto’s condition, Agenzia Fides has been told, by his Confrere Fr. Aurelio Gazzera, is improving.

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.