AU brands CAR militia as terrorists

The African Union on Wednesday in Addis Ababa branded militia targeting Muslims in Central African Republic as ‘terrorists’.

“Henceforth, MISCA considers anti-balakas as terrorists and enemy combatants, and they shall be treated accordingly,” they said.

This was coming after a peacekeeper from Republic of Congo was killed in fighting late on Monday in Boali, north of Bangui.

AU described as the latest in a wave of attacks on the AU peacekeepers, bringing to 21 the number of MISCA peacekeepers who have been killed.

In a statement at the end of their meeting, members suggested deepening international frustration at continuing violence in the country.

It said in spite of the deployment of 2,000 French soldiers and a 6,000 African Union peacekeeping mission, anti-balakas are still roaming much of the capital and terriorising people.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said over 15,000 Muslims are still trapped in Bangui and other areas in the north, northwest and south of the country, protected by international forces.

He, therefore, appealed to the international community to urgently provide troops for a proposed 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission.

Hakim Chkam, MSF’s Head of Mission in CAR, said heavy weapons fire rang out and grenades exploded as fighting gripped parts of the capital over the weekend, killing at least nine people.

He said the Medical Charity Medecins Sans Frontieres also said its teams have treated 38 people injured by bullets, explosions or machetes.

Chkam said all the renewed attacks show that the violence in Bangui was not over yet, in spite of the continued presence of international forces.

Another top UN human rights official warned that the hostility between Christians and Muslims in CAR had reached a terrifying level, and need urgent attention.

Earlier, this month, France accused the European Union of shirking its responsibility after it planned to send 1,000 troops to CAR to back French and African peacekeepers seemed on the verge of collapsing.