Central African Republic: Peace efforts bearing fruit

Bishop Aurelio Gazzera in Bangui (ACN).

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

Despite fears that tensions could erupt into all-out war between religions, a bishop in the Central African Republic (CAR) has said relations have improved between Christians and Muslims.

Bishop Aurelio Gazzera, coadjutor bishop of Bangassou Diocese, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "Today the relationships between Christians and Muslims are fairly good. Everyone is very careful not to set a fire. We have learned from history."

He added: "I was deeply moved, when the local imam took part in Christmas Mass in the parish where I celebrated."

Bishop Gazzera explained that when the civil war broke out in 2013, it "was presented as a religious conflict between Muslims and Christians" - but it was "above all an ethnic and political conflict, even if those involved belonged to different religions".

When Muslim-majority militia Séléka started targeting non-Muslim areas - which led Christians and Animists to form Anti-Balaka groups - Muslim Imam Layama, Catholic Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga and Evangelical Rev'd Nicolas Guerekoyame started an inter-faith initiative to defuse tensions between religious communities.

Spaeking at the time Imam Layama said: "We all saw the danger - everything was in place for a war between Christians and Muslims."

Bishop Gazzera said that Catholic priests and religious demonstrated great courage to protect Muslim communities.

He added: "The Anti-Balaka climbed over the gate of the Sisters' school and seized the refugees who were accommodated there.

"Thereupon, one of the Sisters, at the risk of her life, went to the leader of the militia and said to him: 'You are a criminal! You have no right to enter a place where there are refugees. You must let them go.' And he did."

The bishop highlighted the positive impact of Pope Francis's visit to the capital Bangui in 2015.

He added that the Pope had been advised not to visit the country because of the volatile situation.

He said: "On the day of the Mass in the stadium, 30 November 2015, the entry of Imam Omar Kobine Lamaya, President of the Higher Islamic Council of the CAR, was enthusiastically celebrated by the faithful and was an unforgettable moment of brotherhood.

"This gesture, together with the Pope's visit, promoted interreligious dialogue in a time of extreme tensions."

Bishop Gazzera concluded: "My dream is that the CAR will find peace, that her population can live in dignity and solidarity.

"This country has so much to offer, if we all work together."

LINK

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