BANGUI: Some 1,300 Muslims fearing attack by mainly Christian militias left the Central African capital Bangui yesterday under heavy guard, deepening the religious divide in the strife-torn country.
Piled along with their possessions aboard 18 articulated lorries, the refugees left around midday accompanied by a large contingent of African peacekeepers, headed for the relative safety of the north.
They had been stranded in the PK-12 area on the outskirts of Bangui for five months as transport failed to materialise and amid debate over whether the mass exodus of Muslims from the capital would make peace even more elusive.
The rundown PK-12 ghetto is completely surrounded by a hostile mainly Christian community, and the Muslims had come under frequent attack.
Residents said 22 people had died since December, of whom 18 were victims of violence. Countless others have been wounded by bullets, grenade shrapnel and machetes.
Just after the convoy set off, hundreds of youths could be seen pillaging the ghetto for items abandoned by the Muslims.
Tens of thousands have already fled northwards, almost emptying the south of the country to join those of their own faith, already strongly represented in the north. Others have crossed borders into Chad and Cameroon. They are escorted by soldiers from France’s Operation Sangaris and troops of the multinational African mission MISCA, who together form a peacekeeping force of more than 7,000 men.
The sectarian violence erupted in the former French colony after mainly Muslim rebels of the Seleka alliance seized power for 10 months in March last year and rogue elements carried out terrible atrocities against civilians.
Mostly Christian communities then formed “anti-balaka” vigilante forces to wreak brutal revenge against Muslims, usually targeting innocent people.
AFP
