Religión Digital
On the afternoon of June 29, 2026, Father Crépin Monga, 36 years old, was murdered in Zemio, a mission in the east of the diocese of Bangassou. I ordained him 8 years ago. He was responsible for the committee for peace and reconciliation in the region. Zemio has been living in a very grave situation of insecurity for almost three years. Half of its population, some 20,000 people, live on the other side of the river, in Zapai, already in the territory of Democratic Congo to flee from attacks, abuse and murders.
Thousands of people have fled these jungle villages and have taken refuge in the Catholic Church, where Father Crépin had welcomed them. 4 people were kidnapped at the end of December 2025 and remain in a hidden location in the region. To mitigate the violence, Central African soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries have come to the area. Instead of fighting together for the liberation of the Central African hostages, one of whom is pregnant, they are fighting each other.
Yesterday they came to exchange gunfire in the surroundings of the Catholic mission. We do not know if some came after the priest, now a martyr, or if a stray bullet killed him.
His body lay bloodstained all night in the parish church, like that of our Lord on Calvary. Only this morning at 5:00 a.m. were some women able to enter and wash the body. Dress it and put it on a motorcycle to take it for burial in Bangassou, which is 300 km away. The motorcycle is the most common means of transporting a body along jungle paths, now muddy in the rainy season. The driver in his place, the body behind clinging to him and a third person embracing the body so that it does not fall.
The new bishop of the diocese of Bangassou, Monsignor Aurelio Gazzela went by car to wait for him with a nurse nun 100 km from Zemio, there where the swollen river prevented him from passing with the car to Zemio.
The motorcycle arrived at 6:00 p.m. this evening, after several falls and a puncture, having to place Father Crépin on the ground while they repaired the damage. Africa and its jungles are like that.
At the moment I am writing, Monsignor Aurelio has already collected the body and is traveling at night, at no more than 15 km per hour, until reaching Bangassou, which I estimate will be around 2:00 a.m. The funeral has been prepared for tomorrow at noon.
New martyr of our persecuted Church, who joins so many persecuted churches in the world simply for being disciples of Jesus.