Sectarian violence in CAR

In the Central African Republic in early April, a UN peacekeeping mission known as MINUSCA was accused of killing 21 civilians in the capital, Bangui. At least 40 others were reported injured. On April 12, Banguians laid 17 of the bodies of the deceased at the entrance to the UN headquarters to protest the killing.

According to the UN, its soldiers had engaged an armed criminal group that had been terrorizing locals. A MINUSCA spokesperson said that they had entered the neighborhood to assist the locals, had come under fire and fought back, killing only armed militants. However, locals, including the mayor of the district of Bangui where the event occurred, said that civilians had been targeted.

On May 1, a group of armed people attacked a church in Bangui, killing at least six people. In response, armed citizens attacked a mosque and then a hospital treating victims of the mosque attack. At least 10 others were killed in the retaliation.