Thousands of Muslims flee CAR capital, Bangui

Thousands of Muslims have fled for their lives in the Central African Republic’s (CAR) capital, Bangui, as the sectarian violence rages on.

A convoy of some 500 cars, trucks and motorcycles took thousands of Muslims out of the strife-torn capital on Friday.

There were reports of Muslims being hacked to death and their bodies mutilated by angry Christian mobs, including one incident in which a man was lynched after he fell off one of the crowded trucks.

The international medical charity, Doctors without Borders, condemned on Friday the violence against Muslim communities in the CAR, saying it has reached intolerable and unprecedented levels.

“It really is a horrific situation. All over Bangui, entire Muslim neighborhoods are being destroyed and emptied,” said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director for Human Rights Watch, adding, “Their buildings are being destroyed and being taken apart, brick by brick, roof by roof, to wipe out any sign of their once existence in this country.”

This comes after two months of sectarian violence in Bangui that has targeted the country’s Muslim minority.

The sectarian violence reportedly killed over 1,000 people in January, and forced about one million people to flee their homes.