A local priest in the town of Boda in the Central Africa Republic has said that Sectarian fighting since last Tuesday between Muslims and Christians has left more than75 people dead.

Father Cassien Kamatari, Roman Catholic priest said help was needed to stop the violence between Muslims and Christians in the country.

The fighting was said to have broke out when heavily-armed Muslims erected barricades at the entrance and exit to the town which is some 100km west of the capital Bangui and began attacking Christians. Christians also responded leading to panic in the town.

France is working with some 4,000 troops from African countries to help end the violence which has seen about a million people fleeing their homes.

Father Kamatari told the BBC African Service that majority of those dead were Christian because Muslim victims were buried soon after the attacks and it was not known to him how many of them were killed.

“At least 60 people were killed and many others injured, 15 of whom died of their injuries later in a hospital, instead of thinking only of Bangui, people must also think of what’s happening in the countryside because what we are living through in these communities is horrific’’, Father Kamatari said.

There have been widespread reports of revenge attacks since mainly Muslim fighters withdrew from the capital Bangui last month following the resignation of President Micheal Djotodia who took power after overthrowing President Bozize last year.

Local police chief in the area, Elie Mbailao told reporters that he was informed of the killings by the mayor of the town and quickly deployed troops to the area.

“The mayor of Boda has told me that there were more than 70 dead and over 30 houses burned, we are working very hard to stop the fighting’’, he said.

The Central Africa Republic has been in turmoil since the Seleka rebels led by Micheal Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize last year. President Djotodia resigned last month in a deal that was brokered by regional leaders given way for the first female president in the country, Catherine Samba-Panza

The United Nations said last month that it believed at least 10,000 troops may be required to help the French and African forces to be able to end the unrest.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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