The ongoing crisis which erupted again in Central African Republic has gone beyond mere political conflicts, it has become inter-religious violence.

This was gathered from explanations of George Fakida, a knife-maker, who said that the Seleka group raided the neighbourhood looking for fighters loyal to the former president in Boeing.

While the raids appeared to be politically motivated, Fakida believes it was all about religion.

“Almost all of us are Christians in Boeing, and the majority of the rebels are Muslim and do not like Christian people. That’s why they came to our area to attack the people.”

According to him and other residents within the locality, the soldiers forced them to hand over televisions, telephones, money and other valuables.

Central African Republic is a majority Christian nation; about 10 percent of the population is Muslim.

In March, a rebel movement from mostly Muslim parts of the country overthrew the devoutly Christian president, Francois Bozize, and installed the country’s first Muslim leader, former diplomat Michel Djotodia.

However, in an incident this weekend, community militia members loyal to former President Bozize attacked Seleka positions in the town of Bossangoa north of the capital.
The Christian community, the majority in Bossangoa, fled the town, possibly fearing Seleka reprisals.

In another incident in the nearby town of Bouca, Bozize supporters reportedly torched Muslim homes.

The government says up to 100 people have been killed in the violence, although exact numbers are difficult to confirm.

Speaking about the incident, Guy Simplice Kodegue, the Seleka spokesman told one of our sources that the Muslim population of the country was long neglected by the former regime, and is still under attack by his supporters.

He says the divisive religious aspect of the conflict should prompt an international response.

“If there is a problem between the two communities, it should mobilize the international community to intervene quickly to reestablish security. It is quite like Mali,” he said.

Meanwhile, African Union has approved a new 3,600-soldier peacekeeping force for Central African Republic, to augment the current peacekeeping mission known as MICOPAX.