BANGUI–
A delegation representing the Muslim community in the Central African Republic has met several government officials to discuss means of promoting dialogue and reconciliation in the troubled country, an Anadolu Agency correspondent has said.
"The meeting focused on the real problems faced by Muslims today," government spokesperson Anick Service said in press statements.
The delegation also presented the government with a list of demands.
One delegation member said the meeting had sent a "ray of hope" to the country's Muslims.
At the meeting, Ibrahim Paulin, representative of Bangui's predominantly Muslim district KM5, called for starting dialogue between the government and the Muslim community.
He said it was common knowledge that French troops and African peacekeepers alone could not restore security and stability to the country.
He went on to wonder aloud why the predominantly Christian anti-balaka militia continued to commit "crimes" on an almost daily basis.
Djarsoul Abdounebe, a representative of the Muslims of Bangui's central mosque, attributed recent bloodshed in the country to political and religious factors.
Abdounebe said both Muslims and Christians were victims of what he described as "political gambling" by local political operators.
"Political players stand behind these divisions between Muslims and Christians," he asserted. "These people [political players] use young people and citizens who can be easily duped to add more fuel to the fire."
Meanwhile, Aboubacar Abdoulaye, a representative of the Muslims of Boda town, said the situation had deteriorated because certain radical Christians had rejected dialogue.
Since last December, thousands, mostly Muslims, have been killed in sectarian bloodletting throughout the country. The violence has been blamed largely on anti-balaka militiamen, who are mostly Christian.
The International Organization for Migration has already begun relocating hundreds of Muslims from Bangui to areas in the country's north amid mounting fears on the part of the government and religious figures that the country would be split between a Muslim north and a Christian south.
By Sylvestre Krock
englishnews@aa.com.tr
