Armed attack on Bible Society family; translator killed in C.A.R.

LOMÉ, Togo — Marie Bobal, Acting Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in the Central African Republic, was shaken by a recent attack on her home by armed robbers.

Mrs Bobal, her husband and two of their five children were at their home in Bangui when the attackers struck on the night of Friday, May 25. David Hammond, Secretary of the UBS Francophone Africa Region, said that although shots had been fired at the family, they were unharmed. He asked the UBS fellowship to pray for the Bobal family, who fear further attacks. During the week prior to the attack, Mrs Bobal was in Lomé for a UBS budget workshop.

“The robbers must have assumed that, as someone travelling from abroad, she had brought home some large amount of money,” said Mr Hammond.

News has also been received that Jacques Mekpe, a translator working on the Sango New Testament in the Central African Republic, was killed on May 31. Mr Mekpe was on his way to join his family when he was shot dead at a military checkpoint.

“Mr Mekpe’s death is a grave loss for the Sango New Testament translation project,” said Dr Philip Noss, UBS Translation Services Coordinator. It is thought that the killing may have been part of the violence in Bangui surrounding the attempted coup in the Central African Republic in late May. Reports suggested that at least 20 people were killed.