Friday, May 12, 2017

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Clashes between Christians and Muslims leaves 37 dead.

(Bangui) 37 people have been killed with many more injured after days of fighting between the  Muslim Seleka rebel group and the Christian anti-Balaka forces  in Alindao, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Bambari on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned the attack carried out by suspected members of the Anti-Balaka group against a UN convoy in the south east of the Central African Republic. The attack led to the death of 5 UN personnel, with 10 others injured. In return 8 Anti-Balaka were killed during the attack.

The Central African Republic descended into conflict in 2013 when Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew the country's Christian president, ushering in a brutal reign. The Christian anti-Balaka militia then retaliated with a backlash against Muslim civilians. The country held successful democratic elections last year, but many remote areas remain outside the government's control. Violence by armed groups has risen sharply since late last year. Factions of the Selekarebel group have also started fighting each other for control in the central region.