Boxing unites Christians, Muslim

Bangui. Panting, his red singlet drenched in sweat, he pauses to catch his breath. Ngassima, 18, has taken a few blows in the ring today, he even lost his round but it’s all been worth it in this “fight for peace” in Bangui.

Organising an amateur boxing competition in PK5, a flashpoint Muslim neighbourhood in the capital of the Central African Republic, which has been ravaged by sectarian strife, might seem something of a strange idea.

But Roger Junior Loutomo, president of Central Africa’s boxing federation who came up with the idea and also umpires the fights, sees it differently.

“Not at all, boxing is a symbol of peace!” he said.

“When two boxers fight, they embrace each other afterwards, no matter who is the winner. That’s the message that we want to get across,” he says.

Landlocked Central African Republic descended into chaos in March 2013 after rebels from the mainly Muslim Seleka ousted longtime Christian leader Francois Bozize.

The coup triggered a wave of violence between Muslim rebels and Christian “anti-balaka” militias, plunging the former French colony into its worst crisis since independence in 1960.

Each side has committed widespread atrocities against civilians, driving hundreds of thousands to flee and creating a palpable atmosphere of fear.

But for now, all that is put aside as youngsters from both communities take to the ring to do battle with their fists and their wits.

Cries of encouragement, laughter, applause: it is an unusual atmosphere around the ring, where hundreds of boys and young men have been standing for hours to cheer on their friends under a burning sun.

Several metres away, clouds of red dust rise are kicked up as a group of UN peacekeepers pass by in their armoured vehicles, alert but also looking a somewhat amused.

- ‘Like Muhammad Ali’ -

Martial Ngoko, better known as “Muhammad Ali” is one of today’s favourites: like his idol, he “never loses a match”. And since the second round, he has been the clear winner.

“I dream of boxing like him, and I do box like him,” says Ngoko, who is not shy about comparing himself to the world’s greatest boxing champion.

Raised as a Catholic, the young man said he converted to Islam five years ago during a visit to Pakistan for a boxing tournament out of respect for his idol.

Of the 20 or so fighters taking part in the competition, only two are Muslims from PK5 as the ongoing tensions have prevented most of them from keeping up their training.

In PK5, which covers an area of just a few square kilometres (just over a square mile), youngsters are very keen on boxing and there are no less than four clubs. Football and judo are also very popular.