Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangui (Fides Service)- A year after President Ange-Felix Patasse was forced to leave the country and President François Bozize took power, the Central African Republic has yet to find stability. “The whole country is on strike: state workers are on strike, so are doctors, nurses, teachers, and consequently pupils do not go to school” Bishop Eduard Mathos, Auxiliary Bishop of Bangui, the capital, told Fides. Difficulty in paying salaries of state workers is an old problem in this country and in the past it was the cause of several army revolts.
“Compared to last year, the climate is less tense and there is more freedom. A national unity interim government is in place and Parties can voice their dissent as they did yesterday when they refused to take part in a military parade to mark the regime change as a sign of protest against the President’s policies” Bishop Mathos said. “Sad to say a year of changed regime has brought neither social nor economic security, the situation is still precarious. Medicines are scarce in hospitals, particularly in rural areas. Only thanks to the Catholic organisation Catholic Central African Medical Association medicines donated by the European Union are distributed free at hospitals” Bishop Mathos says.
“Another serious challenge facing the country is to extend security to the whole territory. In the capital police forces function and compared to a year ago there is more security. Unfortunately this is not true in the rest of the country, particularly in rural areas where armed gangs make travelling on the roads almost impossible ” says the Auxiliary Bishop of Bangui.
Although there is no guaranteed security, missionaries have begun repairing mission buildings destroyed in the civil war in the north.
. The crisis in Central Africa broke on 25 October 2002, after an unsuccessful coup launched by François Bozize, army chief at the time.
On 15 March 2003 the troops of President Bozize re-gained Bangui, after months of fighting troops faithful to Ange-Felix Patasse who fled the country. After taking Bangui, Bozize proclaimed himself president ad interim. On 7 April 2003 a transition government was formed led by Abel Goumba. The executive consists of 28 members from all the political parties. The new government has 5 ministers from the Opposition groups, 4 from the party of the new president, François Bozize, 2 from the Central African Democratic Union, two from the Central African Peoples’ Liberation Movement MPLC the party of ousted President Patasse. The remaining seats are attributed to minor parties and members of society and the army. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2004, righe, parole )
