Rebels destroy Catholic parish in Mali

April 03, 2012

Two weeks after a military coup toppled the government of Mali President Amadou Toumani Touré, Tuareg rebels, working with a separate Islamist rebel group, have destroyed a parish and Caritas office in Gao, a city of 90,000 in the northeastern part of the nation.

“We have received calls from the small Catholic community [of 200] left in Gao,” said Father Jean-Jacques, director of Caritas Gao. “They are now in hiding, fearing for their lives.”

The west African nation of 15.3 million is 2% Catholic, according to Vatican statistics.

 

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Further information:

• Amnesty International warns of risks to civilians in northern Mali (CNN)
• In Gao the church and the Caritas local office were destroyed (Fides)