Clashes between Muslim and Christian Militias has left at least 37 people dead in Central African Republic.
The UN said on Friday that a church was torched during the clashes. The clashes on Thursday were sparked after Christian militiamen, known as anti-balaka, killed some Muslims.
This led to revenge attacks from another Muslim militia in the central town of Alindao. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the fighting.
AFP reports that the Christian anti-balaka killed Muslims and an hour later the Muslims attacked “a camp for displaced people” in Alindao.
Vladimir Monteiro, spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping mission Minusca, told AFP that “Part of the population fled to the bush. Hundreds of displaced people have found shelter at Minusca’s forward operating base” in the region.
Najat Rochdi, UN humanitarian coordinator in the CAR said “This vicious cycle of repeated attacks against civilians is unacceptable. Civilians want security, peace and a future.”
Muslims and Christians have for many years been involved in violent clashes resulting a civil war that is yet to end.
The civil war which started in 2013, erupted after President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels.
Christians, who account for about 80% of the population have been fighting back with a vigilante group.
This year the Militia fighters were accused of kidnapping and raping en masse a large group of women in an isolated area of the country.
Despite the deployment of a 12,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission, rival armed groups still continue to commit violence in countryside.
Source: Africafeeds.com
