AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - A missionary: "Armed gangs are reforming again; we hope in the intervention of the Blue Helmets"

Friday, 17 June 2016 missionaries   armed groups  

Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - "Here in Bozoum there are no problems, I know that there have been more in the north", says to Agenzia Fides, Fr. Aurelio Gazzera, Carmelite, parish priest in Bozoum, in the northwest of the Central African Republic, in the area where the Capuchin mission of Ngaoundaye was looted (see Fides 16/06/2016). In this regard, Fr. Aurelio says he contacted the missionaries in Ngaoundaye who told him "they were afraid, but now are rather tranquil". "From what I know - continues Fr. Aurelio - the Seleka group which entered the mission stole a bit of things, especially food, but did not do much damage. Luckily the UN peacekeepers arrived and Seleka left the village".
If the episode in Ngaoundaye appears less serious than it seemed at first, at the same time Fr. Aurelio says that "for more than two months there have been strong tensions in our area due to the presence of armed gangs that are reforming again. Hopefully now there is a greater presence of UN soldiers to ensure the security of all", concludes the missionary. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/06/2016)


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