The Emergence of Orthodoxy in the Central African Republic: A New Dynamic of Faith
In a predominantly Catholic country like the Central African Republic, the arrival of new forms of Christianity can be surprising. However, this is what happened with the introduction of Orthodoxy in 2013. The Saint-André church, located in a peripheral district of the capital Bangui, is the very first Orthodox parish in the country. This appearance of orthodoxy seems to be linked to the growing influence of Russia, in particular through the deployment of the private military company Wagner in the country.
The parish, headed by Monsignor Régis Sinclair Voyemawa, has experienced growing vitality since the arrival of Orthodoxy in the Central African Republic. Monsignor Sinclair, renamed “Sergueï”, discovered this faith during his studies in Cameroon. Today, he has become the first Orthodox “pope” in the Central African Republic.
It is important to note that Saint-André Church is affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, which makes it a Russian parish on Central African soil. This close relationship with the Moscow Patriarchate has had a positive impact on church finances. Donations and funding from Russia now allow the parish to thrive. For example, two theology students benefit from scholarships financed by Russia, and teachers’ salaries are also guaranteed.
But the Russian influence is not limited to the religious sphere. It also extends to the political and security situation in the country. Indeed, some faithful of the Saint-André church believe that the Wagner group, a private Russian military company, comes to the aid of the Central African Republic by helping it to face the rebels who are rampant in the country. This presence of Russia is perceived as an alternative to the abandonment of which the Central Africans feel victims on the part of France, a former colonial power.
However, it is important to remain cautious about this relationship between Orthodoxy in the Central African Republic and Russian influence. The Orthodox parish maintains that the links with the Wagner group are a disinformation campaign, and that its commitment is above all religious. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the Russian presence and the financial support provided by Russia have an impact on the Orthodox community and on the Church of Saint Andrew.
Today, the Orthodox parish has more than 700 faithful. It is a real community that has formed around this new form of Christianity in the Central African Republic. Religious services are celebrated in an atmosphere imbued with spirituality, where icons and incense play a central role.
Orthodoxy in the Central African Republic is therefore much more than a simple religious phenomenon.. It reflects the geopolitical dynamics and the aspirations of Central Africans to find support and identity in this faith coming from Russia. Whether through religious cooperation or political influence, the Saint-André church bears witness to a new dynamic of faith which has firmly established itself in the Central African Republic.