CAR remains on high alert

Tensions remain high in the Central African Republic, despite the departure of its leaders who stepped down as part of a drive to ensure peace returns to the capital.

There were hopes that the change of leadership might provide a fresh start to peace efforts and violence eased a little on Saturday.

But on Sunday gunfire rang out, mosques were attacked and Muslim-owned shops and houses were looted in Bangui.

The United Nations stepped up flights out for foreigners. Governments of other African countries have evacuated nearly 30,000 of their citizens caught up in the violence which local residents are praying will end.

“We need peace because we’ve lost everything. We lost our people, our parents and our children have gone too far into the bush, we don’t need that,” said Eugenie Koyvonne

Now the task of organising fresh elections within 15 days falls on the shoulders of Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet, president of the interim parliament.