AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - Religious leaders: "The violence of May 1, fruit of a Machiavellian plan to divide the Country"

Monday, 7 May 2018 violence   dialogue  

Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - The violence that has shocked Bangui in recent days "is the manifestation of a Machiavellian plan set up by some known Countries that call themselves friends, with the complicity of some patriots". This is what a platform of religious leaders for peace on the causes of the "ignoble massacre perpetrated on May 1 in the parish Notre Dame de Fatima which caused the death of several innocent believers and civilians including don Albert Toungoumala Baba, as well as a hundred wounded" denounce (see Fides, 2/5/2018).
According to the Central African religious leaders, the objectives that the perpetrators of violence aim to obtain are: the division of the Country; make Central Africa ungovernable; if necessary, put it under a protectorate. "All the religious confessions in Central Africa strongly oppose these actions of destabilization" says a statement of the platform of religious leaders sent to Agenzia Fides, including His Eminence, Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Archbishop of Bangui. Cardinal Nzapalainga wondered if there is "a hidden agenda" that guides the action of the perpetrators of the massacre (see Fides 3/5/2018). All the main religious confessions in the Country, whose leaders invite the population and in particular young people, "to calm" now denounce a maneuver of destabilization of the Central African Republic.
In announcing "concerted actions to inform national and international public opinion about the serious danger that threatens our nation's life", religious leaders have decided to proclaim "three days of prayer in all the churches and mosques, 10, 11 and 12 May".
Finally, religious leaders ask the government and MINUSCA (UN Mission in the Central African Republic) "to make every effort to bring the perpetrators of these terrible acts to justice".
Following the prayer of the Regina Coeli, on Sunday 6 May, Pope Francis addressed an "invitation to pray for the people of the Central African Republic, a country that I had the joy of visiting and which I carry in my heart. Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the Lord helps everyone to say no to violence and revenge, to build peace together". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/5/2018)


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