DDHK News, Central Africa - More than 1.200 Muslims have fled the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, escorted by peacekeepers. They are the last Muslim group in the city to have been targeted by Christian militias.
The Central African Republic has been wracked by civil conflict since Seleka rebels - who are predominantly Muslim - ousted the president in March 2013.
This takeover of power sparked a deepening conflict and prompted the majority Christian population to take vigilantism by forming a militia group called "anti-Balaka".
A number of Muslim residents then moved towards relatively safe areas in the two cities located to the north.
The existence of a combined French army and the African Union multinational force (MISCA), which as a whole includes 7.000 personnel, did not reduce the conflict.
After the Muslims moved, looters combed houses, shops and even mosques.
"We don't want any Muslims here, and we don't want their mosque here either," one of the looters Guy Richard told the Associated Press.
A small proportion of Muslims still live in Bangui, but thousands of people have fled the predominantly Christian area.
Already 4,6 million people have fled their homes due to the conflict.
Humanitarian agency Amnesty International has accused peacekeepers in the country Click of failing to prevent ethnic cleansing.
"I am leaving with a heavy heart, but we are being chased here," PK-12 regional resident Tonga Djobo told AP, as quoted. Indonesian BBC.
Charities warn that these kinds of expulsions could exacerbate the food crisis, given that many shops and grocery stores are run by Muslims.
About a quarter of the country's population - 4,6 million people - fled their homes due to the conflict. (bbc.co.uk)
