Central African Republic: Seleka Fighters Attack Village | Human Rights Watch

Central African Republic: Seleka Fighters Attack Village | Human Rights Watch:

 (Bangui) – Heavily armed Seleka fighters joined by Muslim Peuhl cattle herders on February 26, 2014, carried out a deadly attack on the village of Bowai, northeast of Bossangoa, Human Rights Watch said today. The attack killed eight people, and at least 10 others – mostly young children – were wounded by gunfire. After the civilian population fled, the attackers burned many buildings in the village, in some cases trapping people in their homes prior to setting them alight.

Human Rights Watch warned that further Seleka attacks on civilians could occur, and urged French and African forces to step up patrols in the area, located around 60 kilometers northeast of Bossangoa. France, the African Union (AU), the European Union, and concerned countries should urgently bolster efforts to provide effective protection to civilians, including by deploying additional troops and by strengthening AU troops already on the ground.

Divina
Beamkoma, 7, was shot in the legs while fleeing heavily armed Seleka
fighters and Muslim Peuhl herders attacking her village of Boawi on
February 26, 2014.