Capital hit by anti-UN protest

The Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, is at a standstill after a coalition of civil society groups called for a stay away to demand the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers, reports the BBC. The Working Group of the Civil Society on the Central African Republic called on residents to boycott the workplace to demand the withdrawal […]

The Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, is at a standstill after a coalition of civil society groups called for a stay away to demand the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers, reports the BBC.
The Working Group of the Civil Society on the Central African Republic called on residents to boycott the workplace to demand the withdrawal from the country of the UN peacekeeping mission (Minusca), BBC reporters add.
The coalition says the UN force, known by the acronym Minusca, is supposed to protect civilians, and reduce the number of armed groups in the city. However, there are “more killings” in areas where troops are deployed, its coordinator, Gervais Lakosso, is quoted by AFP as saying.
Criticism of the 13,000-strong mission has mounted in recent weeks with local people accusing the peacekeepers of not doing enough to protect them. Civil society groups called for a general strike on Monday to pressure the mission to leave.