“For the past nine months, Covenant World Mission has been carefully monitoring the increased rebel and bandit activity in the Central African Republic (CAR),” Peterson says. “Efforts by rebels to destabilize the country are in protest against the current President Francois Bozize.”
Bozize seized control of the country during a coup in 2003. The nation borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Chad, and Cameroon.
Most of the activity has been taking place in the northeastern area of CAR, and government troops have been dispatched to the region, Peterson says. Covenant missionaries are located in other parts of the country. Missionaries Roy and Aleta Danforth and Ron and Janet Ziegelbaur are in the southwest, close to the Cameroon border, and Karen Benson is in Bangui.
Still, the U.S. State Department has warned Americans not travel to the country and has told those already in the CAR to exercise extra caution. “Americans in Bangui should be certain they have necessary emergency items at home, including food, water, and medicine,” the advisory reads. “They should monitor local and international media for related news and should contact the American Embassy if they have specific questions,” the warning states. “As a general protection and until further notice, American citizens in Bangui should stay away from unfamiliar areas of the city, restrict their outings to necessary duties, and avoid going out after dark.”
Communication with the U.S. Embassy in Bangui and with the many mission agencies in CAR is active, Peterson says. “Any threats to personal safety in these regions where Covenant missionaries are located will be monitored and communicated immediately to the regional missionary team, including regional coordinators Pete and Cindy Ekstrand.”
Peterson asks that Covenanters pray for the missionaries, their families and others serving in the region, as well as pray for a resolution to the unrest that has been developing over the past two years.
