Located in the Koudoukou neighborhood of the Central African Republic capital, the Grande Mosquée de Bangui is a white and green stucco building with three minarets and gold-painted star-and-crescents adorning its roofline. What is now the Central African Republic was likely among the later regions for Islam to reach, perhaps beginning in the 17th century. Since declaring independence from France in 1960, the Central African Republic has experienced a series of conflicts. In April 2014, the Grande Mosquée de Bangui was looted after armed peacekeepers escorted many Muslims out of the conflict zone. On November 29, 2015, Pope Francis visited the Grande Mosquée de Bangui, as well as the nearby Notre-Dame of Bangui Cathedral.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 16, 2021 04:57 UTC