Tag: Central African Republic

CAR’s clerics warn against attempts to divide Christians and Muslims

June 1, 2018 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Antonio Guterres, Bambari, Bangui, Central African Republic, Chad, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, IDPs, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, PK5, Seleka, Sudan, UN, UPC

The three top faith leaders of the Central African Republic (CAR), who have won international recognition for their efforts to end conflict in the country, have blamed foreign mercenaries for a recent upsurge in violence. One month ago today, the relative calm enjoyed by the capital, Bangui, was shattered when . . . Read More

CAR cardinal calls for end to retaliatory violence after shoot-out at Mass

May 16, 2018 Central African Republic Bangui, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, PK5, Seleka

Emotions were high at Notre Dame de Fatima church in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic on Sunday (13 May), as bereaved and traumatised worshippers prepared for a pastoral visit from their cardinal. Two weeks ago the parish became the scene of a massacre, when armed men from the . . . Read More

Church massacre shatters Central African capital’s tranquility

May 3, 2018 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangui, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Oumar Kobine Layama, PK5, Seleka

At least 24 people are feared killed and more than a hundred injured following a fresh outbreak of violence in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, on Tuesday, 1 May. Until recent weeks, the capital had been considered a safe haven in the war-torn country – the only . . . Read More

The scars that don’t heal: Bangui pastor recalls church shelling

April 13, 2018 Central African Republic African Union, Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, PK5, Seleka, UPC

The rain that has fallen overnight has left a puddle in the church, and the pastor, Rev. Franco Mbaye-Bondoi, is worried that if the walls are not repaired before the heavy rains begin in two months, they may collapse. The dangerous cracks in the walls are the only signs left . . . Read More

Evangelical head sets out ambitious vision for rebuilding CAR

April 12, 2018 Central African Republic Bambari, Bangui, Catholics, Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, PK5, Protestants, Seleka, UN, Women, Youth

Churches in the Central African Republic have pledged to unite in prayer in response to the worsening violence dividing the country. The leader of the country’s evangelical church network says the effort has the potential to bring peace to the troubled nation. “Recent history of some countries in Africa, among . . . Read More

Five years on, Central African Republic crisis deepens

April 4, 2018 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bambari, Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Oumar Kobine Layama, Seleka, UN, UPC

A UN official has called for a new approach to end the still-deepening crisis in the Central African Republic. The situation in CAR has been deteriorating for five years now, and in the next six months may grow even worse, according to the head of the UN’s Office for the Coordination . . . Read More

Dozens killed in CAR, including priest who planned to move

March 28, 2018 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Antonio Guterres, Bambari, Bangassou, Bangui, Catholics, Central African Republic, Gambo, Seleka, UN, UPC

Dozens, including a Catholic priest, were killed last week as fighting erupted between armed groups in several villages in southern Central African Republic. Father Joseph Désiré Angbabata, 49, the parish priest of Séko village, near Bambari, lost his life when armed men stormed his village parish of Saint Charles LWANGA . . . Read More

Central African Republic: church elder among six aid workers hacked to death

March 8, 2018 Central African Republic Bangui, Central African Republic, PK5, Seleka, UN

A church elder who worked for UNICEF was one of six people killed during a recent ambush by armed men in northern Central African Republic. Gabriel Ole, 66, was an elder at a Baptist church (Eglise Baptiste Doumbia) in Bangui, the capital. He was among of a group of six . . . Read More

UN denies complicity in Central African Republic massacres, but questions remain

February 9, 2018 Central African Republic Alindao, Bangassou, Bangui, Basse-Kotto, Bocaranga, Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Gambo, Kaga Bandoro, Paoua, Seleka, UN, UPC, Zemio

The UN has rejected allegations of complicity with armed groups in a string of massacres last year in the Central African Republic. A UN Special Investigation team, led by Brigadier General (rtd) Fernand Amoussou and including legal, political and human-rights experts, looked into attacks between 1 May and 31 August . . . Read More

Catholic priest stabbed as violence continues in Central African Republic

January 17, 2018 Central African Republic Bangassou, Bossangoa, Central African Republic, Paoua, Seleka, UN

Catholic bishops in the Central African Republic have condemned a recent upsurge of violence in the country and called on armed groups to lay down their weapons. Fighting between rival armed groups erupted in the north-western town of Paoua and its surroundings at the end of December, while in the . . . Read More

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