Red cross warns of rising tensions in CAR

The increase in violence in the Central African Republic in recent days is a cause of concern, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has warned.

The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the country has already documented 36 violations and abuses of human rights in the last few days.

Observers blame several rebel groups whose leaders have not been integrated in the new government for causing the chaos.

Six police officers in the conflict ridden country were freed on Friday after they were taken hostage in the capital by members of the former Seleka rebel group.

The kidnap took place in the mainly-Muslim PK-5 suburb of Bangui in retaliation for the arrest of 26 residents
suspected of illegally bringing in arms.

It underscores the scale of the task President Faustin-Archange Touadera faces in restoring the state’s authority after years of violence and lawlessness.

Insecurity has persisted since Touadera took office in March, after winning an election intended to draw a line under inter-communal and inter-religious violence pitting the mainly Muslim Seleka against the mainly Christian anti-balaka militias since 2013.