2015-09-30 09:00:00

UNHCR condems violence in Central African Republic


(Vatican Radio)  The capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) is under a night-time curfew after days of intense fighting between Christian and Muslim groups. Fierce clashes between the two groups erupted after the killing of a Muslim taxi driver in Bangui on Saturday. At least 36 people have died in the violence, and the UN says it has forced nearly 30,000 people to flee.

Listen to Peter Kenny's report:

The recent outbreak of violence in the Central African Republic, following the gruesome killing of a young Muslim motorcycle-taxi driver is of extreme concern to the office of UN High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCR).

UNHCHR spokesman Rupert Colville said: "Private properties, religious premises and the offices of international humanitarian organisations have also been looted. Last night, some 500 prisoners escaped from Bangui’s main prison. This is a huge setback for the preservation of law and order, and for the fight against impunity, which has been and remains a chronic problem in CAR."

Colville said this is a crucial moment for the Central African Republic and the Transitional Government authorities must work closely with UN and international forces to urgently stop what appears to be a deliberate attempt to derail the current peace process and important progress made in CAR over the last 18 months between the Christian and Muslim communities.

A High-Level Meeting on Central African Republic will take place later this week on the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.








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