Central African Bishops Call for an end to violence

The bishops of the Central African Republic have issued a statement denouncing the on-going violence in the country and called for all illegal groups to be disarmed. In the statement published on 12 May by Fides new service, the Bishops' Conference condemned the violence committed by various armed groups including the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army, the Anti Balaka group that persecutes civilians and former members of the Seleka who they said are "supported by mercenaries from Chad and Sudan, determined to regain power".
Describing their country as "an open-pit prison, where freedom of movement and freedom of speech are conditioned,” they said even the Church has not been spared from violence. The statement strongly condemned the kidnap and subsequent release of the Bishop of Bossangoa and three of his priests, the killing of Fr. Christ Forman Wilibona in the Diocese of Bossangoa on Good Friday and the attempted kidnap of a pastor.
The bishops called on authorities to disarm all fighters and to re-establish the national armed forces, with the help of international forces present on the ground so as to restore order in the troubled nation.
The statement also denounced the increase in the illegal exploitation of the country's resources as a result of the on-going conflict and called on citizens to take their share of the responsibility to bring the conflict to an end.
"We need international solidarity to cope with the worst crisis in our history, but that does not exempt us of our responsibility as citizens," the message concluded.