In the wake of a rebellion in March, the Central African Republic's new leaders have failed to stop waves of looting and killing by gunmen with free reign outside the capital Bangui. While there has been relative success in re-establishing the rule of law in the capital of the land-locked and mineral-rich country, the new government is proving powerless to contain waves of looting and killing in rural provinces. Under UN military escort they crossed dozens of villages that have been abandoned by residents that are targeted by rivalling camps.
Vigilante groups regularly harass government forces passing through the region. About 50 km outside Bossangoa they found a burnt-out village that had been the recent scene of murder and pillage. Six people were killed with machetes. Djotodia is the first Muslim president of an overwhelmingly Christian country, and angry armed groups have began targeting Muslim communities.
The potential for inter-ethnic violence on a large scale has never been worse, according to local religious leaders who are struggling to calm the population. Daily news brief Receive essential international news every morning.
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