A call to pray as violence grows in the Central African Republic
Tearfund’s country director in the Central African Republic (CAR) has called for Christians to pray for the nation, following a fresh wave of violence.
Fighting has intensified in the last few weeks, with clashes returning to parts of the capital city, Bangui.
On 2 May, gunmen with grenades attacked the Notre-Dame de Fatima church, a Roman Catholic church, in Bangui. In total, 26 people were killed and dozens injured.
This week (Monday 28 May), the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi said CAR is still facing ‘a major humanitarian crisis’.
Six years of conflict
A military coup in 2012 sparked the beginnings of the brutal conflict, as an armed group sought to overthrow the government. This led to retaliation attacks from a second group.
According to UN estimates, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) today has reached almost 670,000, while there are over half a million refugees in neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Chad. In total, over 1.2 million Central Africans — more than one in four living in the region — is either internally displaced or a refugee.
Making a difference
Tearfund works alongside partner organisations in CAR tackling sexual and gender-based violence, promoting good hygiene practices, providing alternative livelihood and income generation opportunities, and vocational training in skills such as farming and tailoring.
We are also trying to rebuild relationships across the country, which has been badly divided by conflict. This can involve running football tournaments in communities, and staging drama sketches with local community members.
Our team in CAR has its HQ in Bangui, although not in the areas of current violence. Our partners are also not located in the troubled areas.
Tearfund’s Country Director for CAR, Athanase Ndayisaba, told us: ‘Where we are in Bangui it is currently calm, and we pray that this state of affairs continues. Nevertheless, the armed groups operating in the PK5 district have not been fully disarmed.
‘We pray that the Lord will contain these armed groups, stopping their attacks on civilians in their neighborhoods and on humanitarian workers.’
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