(Photo Credit: Google Images)
AlJazeera is reporting that the Central African Republic (CAR) has appointed the mayor of Bangui Catherine Samba-Panza to be interim president, as the European Union agreed to send 500 soldiers to help stabilize the country. Nearly one million people have fled CAR, which has been mired in violence since March 2013. The author writes:
“Catherine Samba-Panza, one of eight candidates, was elected by members of the National Transitional Council about a week after former rebel leader Michel Djotodia resigned as president under international pressure over his failure to end the bloodshed.
‘I am the president of all Central Africans, without exception,’ said Samba-Panza. ‘I appeal to my anti-balaka and Seleka children to listen to me and together lay down your weapons.’
Last March, rebel groups known as Seleka came together to overthrow President François Bozizé and there have been widespread reports of killings, rape and looting since then. Attacks and counter-attacks between Muslims and Christians have intensified the levels of bloodshed and brutality.
To qualify, the eight candidates had to show they had no link to the Muslim Seleka rebels which brought Djotodia to power, or the forces behind the mainly Christian ‘anti-balaka’ militia.”
President Samba-Panza is the first woman president to lead the African nation.
Read more at AlJazeera.
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