Editing Central African Republic (section)

=== Religion ===
{{main|Religion in the Central African Republic}}
[[File:Une foule devant la Cathédrale de Bangui, le 7 mai 2018.jpg|thumb|Worshippers at the [[Cathédrale Notre-Dame (Bangui)|Bangui Cathedral]]. [[Christianity]] is the main religion in the Central African Republic.]]
According to the 2003 national census, 80.3% of the population was [[Christianity|Christian]] (51.4% [[Protestantism|Protestant]] and 28.9% [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]]), 10% was [[Islam|Muslim]] and 4.5 percent other religious groups, with 5.5 percent having no religious beliefs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2010|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2016&dlid=268630|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=23 April 2018|archive-date=1 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801161938/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2016&dlid=268630|url-status=live}}</ref> More recent work from the Pew Research Center estimated that, as of 2010, Christians constituted 89.8% of the population (60.7% Protestant and 28.5% Catholic) while Muslims made up 8.9%.<ref name="Pew Christians">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/table-christian-population-as-percentages-of-total-population-by-country/|title=Table: Christian Population as Percentages of Total Population by Country|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=16 April 2018|date=19 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511124911/http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/table-christian-population-as-percentages-of-total-population-by-country/|archive-date=11 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pew Muslims">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/table-muslim-population-by-country/|title=Table: Muslim Population by Country|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=16 April 2018|date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406100706/http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/table-muslim-population-by-country/|archive-date=6 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Catholic Church claims over 1.5&nbsp;million adherents, approximately one-third of the population.<ref name="Catholic Stats">{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/sccf1.html|title=Central African Republic, Statistics by Diocese|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518074018/http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/sccf1.html|archive-date=18 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Indigenous belief ([[animism]]) is also practiced, and many indigenous beliefs are [[Religious syncretism|incorporated into]] Christian and Islamic practice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148671.htm|title=Central African Republic|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=16 October 2014|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220222715/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148671.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> A UN director described religious tensions between Muslims and Christians as being high.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24802898|title=Central African Republic: Religious tinderbox|work=BBC News|date=4 November 2013|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010623/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24802898|archive-date=10 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are many missionary groups operating in the country, including [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], [[Baptists]], [[Catholicism|Catholics]], [[Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches|Grace Brethren]], and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. While these missionaries are predominantly from the United States, France, Italy, and Spain, many are also from [[Nigeria]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], and other African countries. Large numbers of missionaries left the country when fighting broke out between rebel and government forces in 2002–3, but many of them have now returned to continue their work.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71292.htm|title=Central African Republic. International Religious Freedom Report 2006|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=24 June 2017|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727185933/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71292.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to Overseas Development Institute research, during the crisis ongoing since 2012, religious leaders have mediated between communities and armed groups; they also provided refuge for people seeking shelter.<ref name="odi.org">Veronique Barbelet (2015) [http://www.odi.org/publications/10103-protection-car-africa-conflict-seleka-anti-balaka-peacekeepers Central African Republic: addressing the protection crisis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100429/http://www.odi.org/publications/10103-protection-car-africa-conflict-seleka-anti-balaka-peacekeepers |date=22 December 2015 }} London: Overseas Development Institute</ref>