Desolation: Dozens Killed After Islamists Attack Christian Villages In Central African Republic

By Eva-Maria Kolmann and John Newton, ICN – “Attacks by extremists on Christian villages in the Central African Republic have left at least 15 dead and made around 1,000 people homeless. The raids were carried out by Islamist militia group, Séléka which seized control of the country following a coup in March 2013.

At least 14 villages in Bouar Diocese were completely abandoned after residents fled, Italian Carmelite missionary, Fr Aurelio Gazzera, told Aid to the Church in Need.

More than 970 refugees arrived at Fr Gazzera’s mission in Bozoum last weekend (3 – 4 August). The priest visited the mainly Christian villages where the attacks took place, on the road between Bozoum and Bossangoa, on Wednesday (7 August).

He told Aid to the Church in Need: ‘It was terrible. Many villages are like ghost towns because they are completely empty. Witnesses told me that the rebels had thrown the bodies of those killed in the river.’ The dead included a five-month-old baby.

Witnesses gave the number of dead as at least 15 – but according to Fr Gazzera it has to be assumed that ‘several dozen’ have been killed. The priest said that predominantly Muslim villages “are not affected by such attacks, or only slightly”.

In a sermon at his Cathedral of Notre Dame in Bangui, Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga spoke out against the ongoing attacks by Séléka.

Preaching on Sunday 21st July, he said: ‘I can’t remain silent while the sons of this country are the victims of the worst kind of barbarism. I can’t remain silent while Central Africans are being tortured and killed, squashed like flies. I can’t remain silent while our mothers and sisters are being raped.

‘I can’t remain silent while the dignity of the Central African is being trampled underfoot, while innocent people are being robbed, while the just and well-earned fruit of our country is being destroyed and looted as though we were in a house of cards.

‘I can’t remain silent when impunity reigns and a dictatorship of arms is being set up.’

Séléka, which means ‘alliance’ in the local Sango tongue, was formed by the merger of six Islamist rebel groups from Sudan, Chad, Darfur and the Central African Republic.” Read more.

Flashback: Central African Republic: Islamic Militants Armed With ‘Hit List’ Of Pastors And Churches Launch ‘Reign Of Terror’ Against Christians – “Islamic militants have launched a ‘reign of terror’ against Christians in Central African Republic after Seleka rebels took control of the country in a March 24 coup, rights activists said. Armed with a ‘hit list’ of pastors and places of worship, Seleka rebels systematically looted church property, even seizing money from collection plates, according to Barnabas Fund, a Christian aid and advocacy group working in the region.” Read more.

Flashback: Mass Murder, Looting, Theft, Destruction: Anti-Christian Violence ‘Likely To Explode’ In Central African Republic – “Numerous acts of violence perpetrated by members of the rebellion have created a climate of tension between Christians, who make up nearly half of a population estimated at around 4.6 million, and Muslims, who comprise 15%. The two religious communities have coexisted previously without many problems, with a strong Muslim presence in the north and Christians dominating the south. But now the Christian community is claiming some of its Muslim neighbours have becomes accomplices to Séléka’s acts of violence, which are said to include mass murder, looting, theft and the destruction of property. Christians say they feel particularly targeted.” Read more.