Central African Republic Bishops: Peace is a right, not a luxury

By Cecilia Seppia

The Central African Bishops' Conference made a forceful appeal for peace founded on justice, for political responsibility, and for the rejection of every form of violence, in a message released on Sunday, January 11, at the end of their Plenary Assembly.

This message follows the December 28 elections, which brought President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to power for a third consecutive term.

President Touadéra’s reconfirmation came after a constitutional amendment approved through a controversial referendum in 2023, which removed the limit of two consecutive terms and extended their duration from five to seven years, strengthening the presidential character of the political and institutional system.

For the first time in many years, the presidential vote was held together with local administrative elections—a historic development, considering that for nearly 40 years local authorities had not been elected.

Peace is not the absence of war

Opposition groups have denounced electoral fraud and repression of dissent, while the government is negotiating with some armed groups for their disarmament in an effort to pacify the country.

Progress is slow, also due to a lack of economic resources to encourage militias to abandon illegal activities. Numerous armed groups continue to fight against the national armed forces (FACA), assisted by the United Nations mission (MINUSCA).

In this fragile and unstable context, further aggravated by a persistent humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees, the country’s Bishops addressed the “Church—family of God” and all men and women of good will in their message.

They stated that “the glory of God is peace” and that peace cannot be reduced to the mere absence of war and conflict. They acknowledged “the maturity of the Central African people,” who participated peacefully in the vote and monitored the electoral process, also bringing to light irregularities in some polling stations.

Enemies of peace: corruption, abuse of power, impunity

They stressed that this is a sign of a growing civic sense that must be preserved, strengthened, and passed on to future generations. At the same time, the Bishops recalled that peace remains a “deep aspiration” of the country marked by years of violence, displacement, poverty, and identity-based divisions.

“Peace is not a luxury,” the Bishops wrote, “but an inalienable right of every citizen and a duty for those who govern.” They clearly denounce abuse of power, corruption, nepotism, and impunity as “enemies of peace.”

Without strong, credible, and transparent institutions, they warned, “no true progress can be achieved.” In the delicate post-electoral period, the Central African Bishops’ Conference urges everyone to respect the political choices of others. “A political opponent is not an enemy,” they added.

The future of the Central African Republic, conclude the country's Bishops, cannot be built on hatred and violence, but only on dialogue, fraternity, and the common good.

Lastly, they also call on religious denominations to intensify prayer and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue as authentic paths to reconciliation and peace.