Catholic priest Krépén Martial Mongu, who had baptized more than a hundred people the day before, was killed in the Central African Republic

In the Central African Republic, a brutal attack was carried out against Crepen Martial Mongu, a Roman Catholic priest, who was killed on the evening of June 29, 2026. The tragedy occurred in the city of Zemio as the priest was returning to his residence, according toEWTN News.

Unidentified assailants attacked the priest’s car, shooting him in the head. Father Krepen died at the scene from his injuries. A parishioner was also in the car; she sustained a serious neck injury in the shooting and is currently in the hospital in critical condition. At this time, the identities of the perpetrators have not been established, and no local groups have claimed responsibility for this act of violence.

The priest’s death has been a heavy blow to the region. Bishop Aurelio Gazzer of Bangassou described the incident as a “huge loss,” emphasizing that Father Krepen was an active peacemaker who sought to reconcile warring parties. Just one day before his death, on June 28, the priest administered the sacrament of baptism to 175 people, including 160 refugees from the war zone. On the morning of his death, he personally accompanied the newly baptized to the Mbomu River to perform his final pastoral service.

Parishioners remember Father Krepen as a man whose only “weapons” were always the Bible and his rosary. It should be noted that this is not the first time priests have been killed in the region: earlier reports described the murder of a clergyman in Sudan linked to his attempts to expose the theft of humanitarian aid.