Firefights in Niem

Members of the Central African armed forces responded to an attack carried out by the rebels of the “Patriots for Change” (PCC) coalition in the village which is 63 Km. from Bouar, in the Nana-Mambéré district.

“From midday - writes Fr Tiziano Pozzi SCJ, Regional Vicar in Central Africa - during the first exchanges of gunfire, we began to give shelter to the population both in the mission premises and in the hospital. There was an offensive carried out by the army against the rebels who had been controlling the territory for months. Shots were heard everywhere, even from the helicopter that continued to hover over the area. Later in the afternoon, about four hours after the start of the conflict, the army entered in Niem and the population welcomed them as conquerors.”