CAR: 20 killed in protest over taxi driver’s death

Deadly clashes broke out in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), after a Muslim motorbike taxi driver was killed.

About 20 people have been killed with at least 100 others wounded in the violence.

UN peacekeepers took up positions as the fighting spread from the city’s only Muslim neighbourhood to an area where many Christians reside.

CAR has experienced religious and ethnic unrest for more than two years.

The BBC’s Max Allaroum in Bangui says Saturday’s violence is some of the worst the city has experienced this year – with the largest death toll.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs tweeted that residents were fleeing the clashes, heading to displacement camps in the city.

Read also: About 310 killed in Saudi Hajj stampede

Amadou Rufai, a mayor in the Muslim neighbourhood, told BBC Afrique that militia from the mainly Christian “anti-balaka” militia got involved in the violence – and he feared this would mean the violence could continue.

Violence escalated in CAR in March 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country.

Christian militias then formed and during that time about 25% of the population fled their homes.

Under regional pressure, the rebel leader resigned as president in January 2014 and an interim administration took over.

France deployed troops to its former colony to help restore order and last September a UN force, that currently numbers 10,000, began peacekeeping duties.

Credit: BBC

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now