“Yes, Bangassou has fallen into the hands of the rebels, many of whom are mercenaries and people from Niger. The morning was hectic. Heavy artillery from 5 in the morning with about thirty dead and wounded”, the Bishop said.

Faced with insecurity, the Bishop brought a group of orphans to safety. They “are innocent. You look them in the eye, and they know nothing about rebels, mercenaries, struggles for power (…) They only hear the gunshots and explosions. And they are terrified”, says Mgr. Aguirre.

“There are many children injured by stray bullets, children who are trying to flee to Congo to escape the violence”, he added.

The Bishop reports that, after trying to resist the rebel offensive, government soldiers fled Bangassou.

The conquest of Bangassou took place when the diocese had started several reconstruction projects. “Now we will have to start many of these over again. Many traumas need to be healed. The suffering Christ is behind every post-traumatic shock”, highlights Mgr. Aguirre.

Source: Fides.org