Two bombs in CAR aim to distabilise the fragile peace

The Church news agency MISNA has reported that two bombs exploded in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), Wednesday night. One of the bombs was thrown over by two men riding a motorbike while another ignited in a small market, killing three and injuring others,” a source told MISNA in Bangui. The circumstances and motives remain unclear.

“It is the first such attack in the city in months and the mode (of exploding these two bombs) does not appear to be that of any of the two warring militias who recently have tried to avoid direct confrontation. The two militias, Anti-Balaka and Ex-Seleka, rarely strike without a precise (motive or) objective,” the source told MISNA. The bomb attacks instead “appear to be more of an attempt to jeopardise a hard-earned peace but the uncertainty this has created is palpable within the city,” said the source.

There is also growing uncertainty in CAR particularly with regard to what the upcoming 25 October elections will bring to the nation. Nevertheless, residents are getting by with life notwithstanding the fragile peace.

The big news in CAR however is the news of Pope Francis’ visit to the country in November, officially announced by the Vatican Thursday.

“Everyone is talking about it. There is widespread hope and joy over the arrival of the Pope in Bangui, that his words of peace will be encouraging for us all,” concluded the MISNA source.

(MISNA)

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