In the third part of our interview series, Dr Ione explains how insecurity and violence have destroyed the progress of decades of hard work. By 2000, the population of Ngoundaye had managed to set up an extensive network of schools, health centres and water pumps. Maintenance costs were progressively transferred from NGOs to farmers’ committees, ensuring sustainability for development initiatives. But hopeful times did not last. Militaries, rebels and bandits started to attack the population, ruining their villages, their economy, their achievements and their hopes. Thirty years after she began working in the country, Dr Ione and her Central African colleagues had to start all over again.

In the previous episodes, Dr Ione described her engagement in CAR and her life though rebellions and mutinies. In the region of Ngaounday at the border with Chad and Cameroon, she shared the hope of the population and assisted their initiatives to improve their living conditions. She witnessed the quick establishment of social services and the farmers’ will to lead their own development.

Dr Ione is now working for ASSOMESCA (association des oeuvres médicales pour la santé en Centrafrique), driven by the same enthusiasm that brought her to CAR 34 years ago.

Living convictions: Dr Ione describes her incredible experiences in the Central African Republic. A thrilling eye-witness account of the country’s history.