Central African Republic: Bishops say Conflict Mischaracterized as Religious

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Catholic bishops in the Central African Republic criticized media portrayals of their country’s conflict as religious in nature and listed preconditions for restoring peace and effective governance.

“Our present behavior totally discredits the values of unity, dignity and work on which our Central African nation is founded,” the 10-member bishops’ conference said in a January 08 pastoral message according to Catholic News Service (CNS).

“We are offering a deplorable image of both ourselves and our country, as we destroy the few infrastructures still remaining to us. The record is appalling,” they said.

They added that clashes between the rebel Seleka alliance, which seized power in March last year, and a northern-based movement, Anti-Balaka, loyal to ousted President Francois Bozize, had provoked “a cycle of reprisals and counter-reprisals,” but said it was wrong to portray the conflict as pitting Muslims against Christians.

“Not all Anti-Balaka are Christians, and not all Christians are Anti-Balaka – it is the same with Seleka and Muslims,” the bishops said.

“The imprecise terminology which turns Anti-Balaka into a Christian militia must be corrected. This amalgam, propagated by the national and international media, gives a confessional slant to a conflict which is, above all, political and military,” the bishops said.

Central African Republic, population 4.4 million, is about 85 percent Christian and 12 percent Muslim.

French paratroopers arrived December 08 under a U.N. mandate to help disarm Seleka and Anti-Balaka militants, after fighting in the capital, Bangui, left approximately 1,000 dead.

The United Nations said on January 07 the country is “on the brink of catastrophe,” with 2.2 million people needing assistance and half of Bangui’s inhabitants, or 513,000 people, forced to flee their homes.

In their message, the bishops said they were grateful to French and African peacekeepers attempting, “at the cost of their lives,” to re-establish security and public order.

“Everyone must share responsibility in this crisis, which has thrown our country into chaos and turned us against each other,” said the message, co-signed by the bishops’ conference president, Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui, and vice president, Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo Aziagbia of Bossangoa.

“The government must also assume its responsibilities before the nation and history. One cannot rule a people with trickery, manipulation and lying,” the bishops added.

As conditions for peace, they said that mercenaries should be demobilized and repatriated, and a national army re-established to protect the country’s territory and personal security.

They added that elections should also be organized quickly, with an independent international commission set up to investigate human rights violations.

Meanwhile the interim president of the Central African Republic has resigned, after months of political unrest and sectarian violence.

The resignation of Michel Djotodia was announced Friday January 10 after a two-day summit of the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States in Chad.

The statement also said Prime Minister Nicolas Tiengaye will step down. It was not immediately clear when or how new leaders would be chosen.

Some news agencies say ECCAS members have become frustrated with the president’s attempts to curb violence that has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced more than 900,000 others.

The violence has hampered efforts by relief workers to help displaced civilians.