BANGUI - Hassan Isilow
Two days after the resignation of interim president Michael Djotodia, the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) and its war-ravaged capital remains unstable.
"I cannot predict what will happen because the situation in Bangui and in CAR is complex," Sadou Jean-Pierre, the spokesman for the African peacekeeping forces in CAR, known as MISCA, told Anadolu Agency.
"One day it’s peaceful, and the next day there is violence," he added.
Djotodia, the country's first Muslim president since its independence from France, stepped down Friday during a regional summit in neighboring Chad. He has since gone into exile in Benin.
Djotodia was elected by the 135-member National Transitional Council, CAR's interim parliament, in April of last year, one month after the rebel seleka coalition deposed president Francois Bozize, a Christian who had assumed power in a 2003 coup.
Since then, the mineral-rich, landlocked country has been plagued by tit-for-tat sectarian violence between self-styled Christian militias known as "anti-balaka" and former seleka fighters.
"You know such announcements come with different tensions, both excitement and anger," said Jean-Pierre.
"There were celebrations and there were also those who were upset leading to violence," said Jean-Pierre.
Clashes erupted shortly after the news about Djotodia's resignation reached Bangui.
Sporadic gunfire was heard in most parts of Bangui, including near the country’s parliament building, where ex-seleka fighters are known to have a military base in the vicinity.
The violence left one civilian, an ex-seleka fighter and a member of the anti-balaka Christian militia group killed.
Several Muslim-owned businesses had been broken into and looted by Christian mobs.
"Relative calm has returned," said the African peacekeeping force spokesman.
He asserted that his troops were busy patrolling the capital streets to ensure safety of residents.
-Need equipment-
The AU's outgoing special representative in Bangui, Hawa Ahmed Yusuf, believes the 4,000-strong MISCA would make a big difference in stabilizing the troubled country if they had better equipment and logistics.
"If our African Union forces can get good equipment and logistics, I am sure we can make a big difference in ending the current crisis in CAR," Ms. Yusuf told AA.
She said the AU has the forces and human resources but needs more equipment and communication gadgets.
"If we have all these logistics and equipment, we can make a big difference," insisted Ms. Yusuf.
"I have been here since 2010 and I have seen so many crises and how people are still suffering," she recalled.
"Women have been raped and there is no justice."
But the AU representative expressed optimism that this could end with the help of the international community.
"We hope the situation will get better."
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