Highlights:
Central African Republic Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza on 28th September left early for Bangui from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Her early departure was prompted by clashes that have rocked her country’s capital triggered by the death of a Muslim taxi driver. The three-day clashes between the Christian militia and the Muslim groups have claimed dozens of lives.
Hundreds of inmates mainly soldiers and militia men were freed after members of the Anti-Balaka militia attacked a prison on Monday 28th September.
Summary:
The sectarian conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) has accelerated with the recent outburst being on Saturday 26th September when violence between the Christian Militia known as Anti-Balaka and the Muslim Seleka group.
The current wave of violence has prompted the CAR Interim leader Catherine Samba-Panza to cut short her trip to the United Nation General Assembly in New York to return following the intense violence in the capital Bangui.
The latest clashes were triggered after a Muslim taxi driver was killed eliciting the Saturday clashes between the Muslim and Christians and have left dozens of people dead.
On Monday 28th September, the Anti-Balaka militiamen attacked Ngaragba prison in the capital breaking out hundreds of soldiers and fellow militiamen. Additionally thousands of protestors marched to the presidential palace demanding that greater powers be installed back to the army to help curb the clashes that are threating the fragile state.
The latest clashes come weeks before the country’s elections scheduled for 18th October ahead of the Pope’s visit to Bangui.
CAR erupted into violence after Seleka Muslim rebel seized power from the government triggering brutal attacks between Christians and Muslims leaving many dead and thousands homeless mostly Muslims who are the minority.
