Armed men kill 12 in Central African Republic

Armed men killed 12 people in villages in Central African Republic, local officials have confirmed, making the incidence the first case of violence since Faustin-Archange Touadera was confirmed as president last Tuesday in an election many hoped would help end attacks.

According to Reuters, authorities said six people were killed in three different villages.

“Three women from the same family had their throats slit six kilometers from the town,” Amassaka Topi, a local counselor and youth leader in Bambari said.

The violence did not appear directly connected to the political, communal and religious killings involving militia groups that have left thousands dead since 2013.

The attacks were likely linked to livestock rustling or an inter-ethnic dispute involving the Peuhl, or Fulani, ethnic group as officials stated.

Armed Men Kill 12 in Central African Republic https://t.co/qdZYccGDlu pic.twitter.com/JNeV0quQYG

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The CAR constitutional court confirmed former mathematics professor, Touadera’s victorious on Tuesday following a run-off election on Feb. 14., setting the stage for him to be sworn in later on March 25.

Touadera has pledged to make peace and disarmament his priorities.

Despite the presence of U.N. peacekeepers, Bambari has seen numerous attacks in the last year and former rebel groups, the Seleka and the anti-Balaka militia have retained an armed presence in the town.

The country suffered the worst crisis in its history in early 2013 when the mainly Muslim Seleka fighters toppled the then president, François Bozize then the Christian anti-Balaka militias responded by attacking the Muslim minority.