Central African Republic: 'Dialogue with Muslims can rebuild hope, peace'

Cardinal Nzapalainga and the late Imam Oumar Kobine Layama, during 2014 meeting © ACN

Source: ACN

The Central African Republic has been rent apart by sectarian attacks during a major civil conflict - but interfaith dialogue is rekindling hope according to the leader of the country's Catholics.

Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Archbishop of Bangui, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that, despite targeted attacks on both Christian and Muslim communities by militia groups, interfaith work could lay the ground for a lasting peace.

He said: "Religion does not divide us - religion connects us to one another. Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, we must love each other, because we are brothers.

"It is the devil that has pushed us to separate, but we believe that by taking on this leadership we are fulfilling our prophetic role, saying no to violence, yes to love, yes to peace, yes to reconciliation."

Working with Muslim and Evangelical leaders, Cardinal Nzapalainga set up the Platform of Religious Confessions of Central Africa in 2013, in response to growing religious tensions triggered by militia groups' targeted attacks.

Since 2021, rebels have been driven back by CAR armed forces supported by the Russian Wagner group and Rwandan soldiers.

Despite four rebel militias disarming at the end of 2022, Cardinal Nzapalainga stressed there was still insecurity, but added hope was returning slowly.

He said: "Today, little by little, hope is being reborn. And this hope allows children to go to school, parents to go to the fields, traders to carry on their work, and the sick to receive medicine." The cardinal added that the Church would continue playing a "prophetic role" in the search for peace, saying it was "the foundation for development, so that people can envision a future different from war".

"That's why our role is to be artisans of peace, to speak to hearts, to speak so that people can look each other in the eyes, discuss, find solutions together. The solution is in dialogue."

Working with Muslim and Evangelical leaders, Cardinal Nzapalainga set up the Platform of Religious Confessions of Central Africa in 2013, in response to growing religious tensions.

Rebels from the Muslim-majority militant group Séléka seized territory for political and financial gain, singling out non-Muslim areas to attack. This caused Christians, Animists and others to band together as Anti-Balaka groups. Originally defence units formed to protect against Séléka raids, they quickly became a militia in their own right, targeting Muslim areas.

The Platform of Religious Confessions of Central Africa travelled to areas experiencing violence to foster inter-faith harmony and try to establish dialogue between armed groups and elected officials.

Original interview by Filipe d'Avillez

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Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org