At least two people died in clashes between gangs and militias in Central African Republic’s capital, where peacekeepers and pressure from international leaders have failed to halt more than two years of violence, witnesses told Reuters.
Mourners brought one of the bodies to Bangui’s main morgue in a cart early on Wednesday, the latest victim in a five-day fighting between United Nations peacekeepers and Christian, Muslim and other groups, the worst the city has seen this year.
The fresh violence has raised doubts about plans to hold elections on October 18, meant to restore democracy in an impoverished country at the heart one of Africa’s most combustible regions following a rebellion and years of turmoil.
One of the dead was killed in a mainly Muslim district and the other in a clash near the airport, witnesses said, without giving further details.
Officials said at least 39 people have died since Saturday, but streets appeared calmer on Wednesday.
Mostly Muslim rebels, united under the umbrella group Seleka, seized power in the mostly Christian country in 2013.
Seleka stepped aside the next year, under pressure from the UN and former colonial ruler France, clearing the way for an interim government led by President Catherine Samba-Panza. But reprisals and counter-attacks have continued.
Samba-Panza left the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to deal with the violence and spent the night in neighbouring Cameroon. There were no details on when she would return.
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