In the seventh part of our interview series, Dr Ione describes how people undertook the rebuilding of their houses and collective facilities. She emphasizes the efforts made by the government to re-open a dialogue with the rebels and to restore trust among the population. Thanks to her privileged relationship with the people of Ngaoundaye, including rebels, Dr Ione has been able to discuss the government initiative with armed men in the northwest.

The signature of a peace deal between the Central African Government and the APRD, the rebel movement active in the region of Ngaoundaye, recently proved Dr Ione’s optimism to be well founded.

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. She recalled the attacks on Ngoundaye, and how she shared the fears of the inhabitants and had to hide with them in the bush in order to protect he life and her hospital. Finally, she was able to see the rising interest of the international community for the Central African crisis, and the response of humanitarian actors.

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.