Christianity in Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR), formerly known as Ubangi-Shari, is located in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the North, Sudan to the Northeast, South Sudan to the East. Other neighboring countries are Democratic Republic of Congo to the South, Republic of Congo to the Southwest, and Cameroon to the West.

Bangui is its capital and largest city, while the official languages are Sango and French. CAR’s human population is 5,552,228, represented by many ethnic groups. These include Baggara Arabs, Baka, Banda, Bayaka, Fula, Mbaka, Ngbandi, Sara, Yulu and Kanuri. The dominant faith is Christianity practiced by 73% of the population, followed by Islam at 13.9%, traditional African religion, 12% and other faiths, 0.9%.

Brief modern History

       After gaining independence from France in 1960, the country was ruled by a series of autocratic leaders, including an abortive attempt at a monarchy. By the 1990s, calls for democracy led to the first multi-party democratic elections in 1993. Ange-Felix Patasse became President, but was later removed by General Francois Bozize in the 2003 coup. This led to a Civil War in what was known as the ‘Bush War’ in 2004. Despite a peace treaty in 2007, and another in 2011, civil war resumed in 2012. The Civil War perpetuated the country’s poor human rights record, as it was characterised by widespread abuses by various participating armed groups, such as arbitrary imprisonment, torture, restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of movement.

        Changes in government in the country in recent years have occurred through three methods: violence, negotiations, and elections. Voters in a referendum held on December 5, 2004 approved a new constitution. The government was rated ‘Party Free’ from 1991 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2013. The incumbent President is Faustin-Archange Touadera.

God’s Canvass

       CAR is a land-locked country within the interior of the African continent. Much of it consists of flat or rolling plateau savanna approximately 500 meters above sea level. In addition to the Fertit Hills in the Northeast axis of the country, there are scatters hills in the Southwest region. CAR has a high rate of deforestation estimated at 71%. The fauna and flora elements are presented below.

Fauna

Central African Republic is home to some of the unique wildlife on the planet. Silverback gorillas, pigmy chimpanzees, elephants, bongos, hyrax, olive baboons, and lions are among animals native to the country. Some of them are shown below.       

Flora

The flora of the country has not been very well studied at all, although at least 3,600 species are known. The tropical rain forest in the Southwest contains luxuriant plant growth, with some trees reaching a height of 46 metres. Towards the North, the forest gradually becomes less dense, with wider patches of grassland. Some of the plant species in the country are presented below.

Beaches

Culture

          Frequent wars and violence have scarred the country and blunted its cultural outlook. Currently, the only unifying factor is football, cherished across the board. Traditionally, people avoid the display of power and wealth because they are shared in the lineage. In spite of the acquisition of wealth and Western goods, egalitarianism continues to be the ideal. The people are generally family-oriented and hospitable. Shaking hands is customary in the country. Also, locals eat with their hands, not cutlery, but visitors are not under compulsion to do so. Music is a hodgepodge of influences, with ‘sanza’ being the most popular instrument. Genres like ‘soukous’, Afrobeat, pop music and Western rock are also favourites, but the Pygmies who inhabit the South Western axis of the country have their own folk traditions.

Traditional Attire

 When the people of CAR go out, they wear their best clothes. Men adorn African-style suits known as ‘complets’, matching pants and shirts in colourful fabric. Women usually dress in a tailored top, two wraparound skirts, and a scarf to cover the head. In fact, CAR people place a great deal of importance on clothing. Therefore, they do not respect those who dress shabbily. Outside of Bangui, the capital city, the less affluent wear Africa-print wraparound skirts with Western T-shits. Some of the notable traditional attires are shown below.

Cuisine

A typical daily diet of CAR people consists of a manioc or cassava porridge that resembles bread dough, along with a sauce made of manioc or other green leaves. It may contain some type of meat, including beef, goats and antelopes. Some people in the country also eat caterpillars, locusts and wild mushrooms. It is pertinent to note that meat is expensive in CAR, and can be difficult to obtain. As a result, most families do not have it every day.

Meals are usually eaten from a common bowl, with men eating theirs separately from women and children. Other popular foods are peanuts and yams. Other notable dishes include chicken and cumin stew, ‘Chichinga’, or skewered barbecued goat and Egusi sauce. Roadside stalls sell ‘makara’, a type of fried bread, sandwiches, barbecued meats and snacks. Restaurants are mostly patronised by expatriates. Some of the prominent dishes of CAR are shown below.

Status of Christianity in CAR

Christianity holds a significant role in the culture and societyof Central African Republic. Its influence can be observed in various aspects of daily life from education to politics. However, witchcraft is widely practised alongside Christianity and Islam. In recent years, sectarian violence have intensified in the country, with many people, including Christians caught in the fray.

Many of the factions, including the infamous Wagner mercenary group from Russia involved in the decade-long conflict have been accused of human rights violations, even as they now control much of the country. Christian leaders who dare to publicly denounce the violence have been threatened, and their church buildings set ablaze or ransacked.

 Some anti-government militias also target the Christian community, and in many of the regions these rebel groups control, believers are at the risk of abduction, murder, sexual violence and other horrific treatment. Militias also force Christians to join their ranks, leaving devastated families and communities. The conflict has equally displaced many believers, forcing them to live in camps.  In addition, converts from Islam face persecution from their immediate families and local communities, including ostracization, pressure and even physical attacks.

They also risk discrimination in the workplace, forced marriages, and having their children taken away by their enraged families. The most troubling aspect of the religious configuration of the country is the pervasive influence of the spirit of witchcraft, which primarily finds expression in the African traditional religion tolerated by many locals. In the light of the foregoing, children of God need to intercede for unsaved souls in CAR using the under-listed prayer points or as the Holy Spirit leads them.      

Prayer Points

1. Ask the Father to fulfil His promise in Joel 2:28 by pouring out His Spirit on all unsaved souls in the country.
2. Pray that He would remove the blindfold of satan from the hearts and minds of these people, using their President, Faustin-Archange Touadera as point of contact.
3. Bind all principalities and powers operating in the country in the name of Jesus and ask the Father to uproot them from the land.
4. Pray that God would destroy the foundations of all false religions in CAR and set their captives free.
5. Pray that the Father would send labourers into His harvest in the country.
6. Ask Him to destroy faulty spiritual foundations laid in the lives of Christian believers and lay a new one that is in Christ Jesus His Son alone.
7. Pray that God would sanctify believers with His word and purge them of pollutions from their interactions with adherents of false religions, especially traditional African religion which promotes witchcraft.
8. Ask the Father to fill believers with the Holy Spirit to enable them model Christ with their lives and be effective ministers of His resurrection power.
9. Pray that the Father would open doors for believers to evangelise in Muslim dominated areas of the country and protect the ministers from attack by extremists.
10.  Ask the Father to protect Muslim converts and grant them the grace to stand firm in their faith despite persecutions from their families and local communities.
11.  Pray that the Father would bring lasting peace to the country and cause rival political groups to accept reconciliation and rapprochement in the overall interest of their people.

Intercession Checklist

 From the political map of Central African Republic provided in the text, select a town, city or region for focused prayer. Present the chosen geographical space to the Father and tell Him that you are claiming its people for Christ as His ambassador. The anchor Scriptures are Psalm 2:8 and 2 Corinthians 5:20. God bless you as you sow into this rich harvest field.

***** Some materials sourced from Central African Republic, https://www.en.m.wikipedia.org; https://www.textilevaluechain.in; Central African Wildlife – Top 5 Must See Animals, https://www.textbooktravel.com; Convention on Biological Diversity, https://www.cbd.int; Serving Persecuted Christians Worldwide – Central African Republic, https://www.opendoorsuk.org.