The Archbishop of Bossangoa and three priests were released within 24 hours of being kidnapped by Seleka rebels in the Northern town of the Central African Republic.

“I spoke to him and he told me he is well”, said the Archbishop of Bangui, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, adding that they are now near the city of Batangafo, on the border with Chad. The Archbishop explained that the Bishop of Bossangoa, Monsignor Nestor Désiré Nongo Aziagbia, told him that they were stopped at a checkpoint by Seleka rebels and taken to a rebel base where they met with some leaders of the movement.

The group is being escorted by soldiers of the African MISCA mission to Bossangoa, the town in the violent northwest, where nearly 40,000 people – most of them Christians – have sought refuge since September.

Sources: World Watch Monitor; MISNA