Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga, Bishop of Ebolowa, was seriously injured in a road accident on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The accident occurred between the bishop’s residence and the cathedral where he was going for ordinations.
According to a statement from the Ter Gendarmerie Brigade, the bishop’s car lost control and hit an embankment. The bishop and two other passengers, a nun, Sister Monique Sophie Beyala, and the driver, Mr. Belinga, were all seriously injured and were taken to the Ngalane Reference Hospital for treatment. “The three occupants, including the Bishop, are in intensive care but out of immediate danger,” the Gendarmerie confirmed in their statement. The preliminary cause of the accident was a mechanical failure of the brakes. An investigation is underway.
In a statement released by the Diocese of Ebolowa, Vicar General Bertrand Melobo said the bishop, the nun and the driver were out of danger. He thanked all people who prayed for the victims and asked God’s people to continue praying for their full recovery. He urged the faithful to “continue praying for the full recovery of the victims.”