Fighting between Muslim fighters and Christian militias has left many people dead in the Central Africa Republic.
Local reporters say fighting broke out between the Seleka fighters who are mainly Muslims and the anti-balaka Christians fighters in the town of Bambari which is some 380 km northwest of the capital Bangui on Monday late afternoon.
The fighting was said to have been intensified, forcing civilians who are mainly Christians to seek protection at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church in the centre of the town.
But Church officials told reporters that the Seleka fighters entered the Church and attacked many people resulting in heavy casualties. The Seleka fighter were said to have alleged that the Church was protecting the anti-balaka fighters and therefore raided the place.
General overseer for the archdiocese of Bangui, Rev. Jesus Martial Dembele told the Reuters African Service that the situation is very appalling and that they could not even count the number of those dead.
“We don’t have the exact death toll yet, but many people have been killed. As I’m speaking to you, they are still there”, he was quoted as saying.
Grenade attack in the town injured seven French soldiers last week and French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian is due to visit the town this week.
The Central Africa Republic has been in turmoil since the Seleka rebels led by Micheal Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize last year.
But President Djotodia resigned January this year in a deal that was brokered by regional leaders, given way for the first female president of the country, Catherine Samba-Panza but violence continue to threaten the stability of the country.
The United Nations estimates that more than a million people have fled their homes in the crisis and human rights officials say parts of the country have seen religious cleansing between Christians and Muslims.
Muslim civilians are being targeted by Christian militias known as anti-balaka in revenge for the seizure of power by mainly Muslim rebels last year.
The anti-balaka says they are taking revenge for atrocities committed by the Muslim rebels, the Seleka when Mr. Djotodia seized power in March 2013.
Many civilian Muslims have fled the country but the heavily armed Seleka fighters are still in the country trying to fight the Christians back.
There are some 5,000 African Union and 2,000 French troops in the country but they have failed to stop the bloodshed.
The UN Security Council has approved plans to deploy a peacekeeping mission of 12,000 personnel in the country.
The peacekeepers will assume their authority on September 15 from the African Union. The African Union force would then be integrated into the new UN force.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com
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