Wave of violence in Central African Republic, site of November papal visit

September 29, 2015

Violence has flared in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic and site of a papal visit in November, according to a wire service reports.

The Associated Press, which described the violence as the worst in a year, reported that the strife was “sparked by the death of a Muslim man whose body was left near a mosque. Muslim militants then attacked a Christian neighborhood with weekend clashes leaving several dozen people dead.”

The Central African Republic Civil War, which began in 2012, has pitted Muslim militias, which held sway in the nation for a year, against anti-Balaka militias that claim to be Christian. The nation’s bishops have denounced atrocities committed by all belligerents.

 

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Further information:

• About 500 prisoners escape Central African Republic jail (AP)
• Bangui paralysed by violence, mass escape (AFP)