Central African Republic’s interim prime minister and his Cabinet have stepped down as part of last month’s peace deal aimed at ending sectarian violence in which thousands have died.
A spokesman for interim president Catherine Samba-Panza told state radio that the resignation of Andre Nzapayeke was at her request. Following talks with Christian and Muslim rebel factions, Samba-Panza is likely to make the transitional government more inclusive, possibly clearing the way for a Muslim prime minister.
The CAR government is tasked with organizing elections by early next year. It is hoped the poll will restore stability to the country, which has been mired in bloody sectarian violence since mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted former president Francois Bozize in March 2013. Christian fighters responded to a brutal 10-month rule by the Seleka forces by attacking the capital, Bangui, in December 2013, leading to a cycle of further violence that has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. Almost the entire Muslim community has abandoned Bangui and the southern parts of the country.
A peacekeeping force composed of about 2,000 French, 6,500 African and 800 EU troops has helped contain some of the fighting, but both sides of the conflict are still accused by human rights groups of having carried out widespread atrocities against the civilian population.
In a sign of ongoing tensions, several Seleka militiamen were killed this week in clashes with French peacekeepers in the north, according to the AFP news agency. Last week, at least 22 died in fighting between the Seleka and mainly Christian anti-balaka (“anti-machete”) fighters.
