Over 1,000 Muslims have been hiding inside a Church at a compound in Bangassou, Central African Republic, fearful that a hostile militia will kill them.
The rebels, Anti-balaka, from Sudan and Chad have destroyed and attacked the homes of both Christian and Muslim communities.
A Christian charity in contact with the church in Bangassou, told the Christian Post, in an email sent Thursday that numerous media reports that describe the anti-balaka militia group as “Christian” are off the mark.
“To call the anti-balaka a Christian militia, as is often done, is a mistake,” said Maria Lozano, communications manager at Aid to the Church in Need International.
Adding, “Our partners in the field told us several times that there is not much about them that is Christian. They carry fetishes and amulets for protection. The conflict is between Muslims and non-Muslims, the many followers of traditional religions and non-Christian sects.”
Lozano described the crisis in Central African Republic as an “explosion of madness,” which has led to arbitrary killings and disabled people being left behind.
“Often the anti-balaka have drunk a lot of alcohol and taken drugs, thus [becoming] unpredictable, which has led to more and more violence,” she added, noting that the militia is dangerous for all people.
As for Christians in the diocese, The Christian Post says they are living in fear and in hiding as well.
Father Yovane Cox, a Chilean missionary at the compound told media that holy mass and other church events only gather handfuls of congregants.
The church has found itself in no man’s land in the conflict, with some hardline Muslims accusing it of being complicit with the anti-balakas, while the anti-balakas themselves reportedly see the Christians as traitors for hiding and protecting Muslims.
“There is a mutual incomprehension, a very deep antagonism, and the Church finds herself caught in the middle between them, a perfect target for anybody who has lost control of the situation,” Cox said.
Already in May 2017 some 2000 Muslims took refuge in the grounds of the diocesan minor seminary of the Catholic Church (around 200 metres from the cathedral), seeking protection.
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