AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - The Vicar General of Bouar: "Fr. Mateusz is fine and was released without the use of force"

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - Fr. Mateusz Dziedzic, the Fidei Donum Polish priest is fine. He was kidnapped in mid-October in the Central African Republic (see Fides 15/10/2014) and was released yesterday, November 26. This was reported to Agenzia Fides by the Vicar General of the diocese of Bouar, Fr. Mirek Gucwa. "We were told about the release of Fr. Mateusz yesterday and in the evening we were able to speak to him over the phone. He said he is fine", says Fr. Mirek.
"Fr. Mateusz was released along with 15 other hostages of Cameroonian nationality, in the territory of Cameroon", says the Vicar General of Bouar. The hostages, including the Polish priest, were seized by the "Front Démocratique du Peuple Centrafricain (FDPC)", whose leader, Abdoulaye Miskin, is held in Cameroon.
A statement of the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, sent to Agenzia Fides says that the release of 15 hostages in Cameroon, kidnapped between 20 September and 24 October in the east of the Country, was possible thanks to "a special operation conducted by the armed forces and security in Cameroon". The statement also recognizes the "significant contribution" of the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, mediator in the Central African crisis, for the release of hostages.
According to Fr. Mirek, to the extent known, the latter were not released through a military operation and are waiting for the release of 10 hostages still held by the Central African nationality group. "Hopefully they will be released soon", he says. Currently "Fr. Mateusz is in Brazzaville, where he met President Sassou Nguesso" adds Fr. Mirek.
The Apostolic Vicar reports that in Bouar the situation is calm thanks to the presence of a MINUSCA contingent (UN Mission in the Central African Republic), formed by the military of Cameroon, Bangladesh and Morocco. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2014)


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