Central African Republic (MNN) — While the Middle East continues to top headlines, instability in the Central African Republic is overlooked.
Rebel soldiers in the CAR are accused of 400 murders since March. (Image courtesy AfricanArguments.org)
“It’s really, in many cases, forgotten,” says Jim Hocking of Integrated Community Development International (ICDI). “People don’t keep up on the news; you have to actually go looking for it, it doesn’t come to you.”
A recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights shows Seleka rebels have killed at least 400 people since gaining control of the country in March. Rape and kidnappings are continuing, as well as the use of child soldiers.
The group, known by its French acronym FIDH, says rebels are committing human rights abuses against CAR civilians that could qualify as war crimes.
FIDH Africa Director and Researcher Marceau Sivieude told Voice of America “civilians are living in ‘total insecurity’ with no one to protect them.”
Hocking says most of the unrest is in the capital city of Bangui.
“Lots of insecurities; as they try to disarm some of the rebel groups, they’re running into lots of problems,” says Hocking.
“That adds to the insecurity when there’s little fights that break out; shooting matches between those that are trying to disarm and those that [don’t want] to give up their arms.”
Turmoil has no sign of stopping, but ICDI and Living Water International are going full-steam ahead. Acting as Living Water’s in-country representative for the CAR, ICDI provides continued sanitation training in villages that participate in its well-maintenance program.
Hocking says two local teams are maintaining wells in 250 villages throughout northern and western regions.
“When they’re on the road and a long distance from the capital city – from any city – there is risk,” Hocking explains. “They could come across rebels quite often and basically have to negotiate their way out.”
He adds, “There’s nothing really for the rebels to take from them, but it’s risky. They could get into some difficult situations.”
Pray for the safety of ICDI workers. Help them bring clean water and the Living Water of Christ to those in need.
“Continue to pray; support organizations, like [HCJB Global] and like Living Water, who help us with funding to both maintain wells and drill wells,” says Hocking.
ICDI runs a Christian radio station in the CAR with the help of HCJB Global. In March, looters took this station off the air.
See how the partners worked together to get “Radio ICDI” back on the air.
The Central African Republic is a land-locked nation surrounded by Chad, Sudan, the DRC, Congo and Cameroon. (Map courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
