Until recently, AIM had a team of about fifteen members, chiefly involved in medical and church work. Churches are not strong, many being affected by the prevalent belief in witchcraft. Sound Bible teaching, together with the work of the Holy Spirit, is needed to release the churches from this oppression.

In 1996, the country experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms. There was subsequent violence between the government and rebel military groups over issues such as pay, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government. These conflicts destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax revenues, and exacerbated the government’s problems in meeting expenses. African peacekeepers restored order in 1997; in April 1998 the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) assumed responsibility for peacekeeping operations. Several factors combined to make AIM’s presence in CAR increasingly difficult.