Fresh fighting erupts, claims three lives in CAR: Locals

At least three people have been killed after a fresh wave of fighting broke out in the strife-stricken Central African Republic (CAR), local sources say.

Local residents said renewed violence between ethnic communities claimed three lives in the city of Sibut, situated about 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of the capital, Bangui, on Saturday.

Witnesses also said that the Seleka fighters are making gains in Sibut amid the absence of the African peacekeeping troops and the French forces.

Meanwhile, other sources say similar violence has erupted in the western town of Bossemptele, near the border with Cameroon.

The incident comes as the parliament in the CAR is set to select a new transitional leader on Monday after former CAR president, Michel Djotodia, resigned on January 10 due to the intense pressure over his government’s failure to contain the ongoing sectarian violence in the country.

Heavy fighting led to the death of more than 1,000 people in the CAR in December 2013 alone. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also said nearly one million people have been displaced due to the turmoil.

The Central African Republic spiraled into chaos in March last year when Seleka fighters overthrew former president, Francois Bozize, and brought Djotodia to power. Bozize fled the country after his ouster.

On December 5, 2013, France invaded the CAR after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and Paris the go-ahead to send troops to the country.

Paris claims the aim of its military operation is to create stability in its former colony, but it has so far failed to contain the ongoing bloodshed in the CAR.