In the fourth part of our interview series, Dr Ione recalls the attacks on the village of Ngaoundaye, the farmers forced to flee into the bush, the violence inflicted upon the women and their incredible ability to forgive those who attacked them. Dr Ione recounts how she shared the fears of the people of Ngoundaye and hid with them at nights. Finally, she remembers the courage demonstrated by the population to protect their community hospital against the assailants.

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 and promising establishment of community social services and the destruction of twenty five years of hard work by the successive rebellions.

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.