#Africa #CAR – Father Crépin Martial Monga, a dedicated Catholic priest and advocate for peace in eastern Central African Republic, was fatally shot on Monday evening, June 29, 2026, outside his parish residence.
Father Monga, vicar of St. John the Baptist Parish in Zémio within the Bangassou Diocese, died instantly after being struck in the head by gunfire from unidentified armed assailants. A female parishioner traveling with him sustained a serious neck wound and was hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities had not identified the perpetrators or established a motive as of Tuesday.
The attack occurred around 6:43 p.m. on the road linking a checkpoint of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) to the presbytery. Local sources reported ongoing gunfire in the area, which hampered immediate investigations and information gathering.
Bishop Aurelio Gazzera of Bangassou described the killing as a “tremendous and devastating loss” for the local community and the diocese. He praised Father Monga’s unwavering commitment to peace and reconciliation, noting that the priest worked tirelessly through the Local Committee for Peace and Reconciliation (CLPR) to foster dialogue amid regional conflicts.
“Father Monga was a man of peace rather than violence,” the bishop stated. “He carried no weapons other than the Bible and the Rosary.”
Father Monga had spent his final days focused on pastoral care. On June 28, he administered the Sacrament of Baptism to 175 candidates, including many displaced Christians. On the morning of June 29, he accompanied the newly baptized to the banks of the Mbomou River before returning with them — his last recorded act before the fatal ambush.
His funeral took place on Tuesday, July 1, at St. Peter Claver Cathedral in the Bangassou Diocese.
The slaying underscored the persistent dangers faced by religious leaders and civilians in parts of the Central African Republic, where armed groups continue to fuel instability despite international peace initiatives. Father Monga was widely remembered for his kindness, closeness to families in hardship, and dedication to social cohesion in one of the country’s most volatile regions.
Image: Father Crépin Martial Monga.
