Coronavirus: diaspora from the Central African Republic, the difficult mourning in Bangui

Audio 02:27

By: Charlotte Cosset Follow

The Central African Republic is still relatively untouched by Covid-19 with 94 confirmed cases. And if the country has not yet counted any deaths on its territory, the Central African diaspora is not spared. Deaths thousands of miles away, in complicated sanitary conditions.

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On the screen of Hervé's phone are less than ten close family members, white masks on their faces. An enclosure echoes the imam's last prayer before being buried in the Parisian suburbs.

The connection cuts regularly. Living the death of his father like this, from a distance, is a real challenge for Hervé Serefio. "  It's very hard, because you first had to manage everything that is organized at the hospital level with the family over the phone,  " explains Hervé. "  You know when a loved one dies in the family, especially a baobab, a father ... When you are told that you cannot attend your father's brewing, come and see him one last time ; that's what was so hard for the family. For me, it's even harder, because I would have liked to be there. I, who am very very close to my father, would have liked to be there to pay him this tribute for the last time,  ”he regrets.

"I tried to manage it as best I could"

The Mageot family is also very touched. Two members died from the Covid-19. “  I learned about it on social media. I still allowed myself to send a message in his private mailbox. There was no response and it was confirmed that he had just died of Covid-19,  ”said Brice, one of the nephews.

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For him, the loss is difficult to achieve. “  I tried to manage it as best I could. There was a small funeral ceremony for the family gathering, I chose not to go because I knew I was going to experience it badly. And what I did, I reread some of the exchanges I had with him. For me, the loss was not so much physical (I saw, I did not see). No matter what I write to her, there will be no more answers,  ”sighs Brice.

"We cannot mourn"

Serge Bruno Mageot is one of the brothers of the two deceased. In addition to the pain, he can't help but wonder. “  It happened really quickly. I do not know if my two brothers and sisters received the necessary care to avoid this death. It is a great loss for our family. They were the pillars, we find ourselves orphans  ”, explains Serge Bruno Mageot.

For him, it is difficult to find the words to describe his feelings. But the emotion is palpable. “  It was really very hard. After the death we could not bury them with dignity either in France or here in Bangui. Imagine what happens next. We cannot grieve. It's impossible,  ”he said, his throat tight.

The family has already planned to take legal steps to be able to repatriate the remains. But the first thing will be, when the flights resume, to go and collect themselves on their graves.

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• Central africa
• Coronavirus