Re: Over 80 Nigerians killed in Bangui
Your story is however misleading. The message portrayed was that Muslims were simply the only victims of the carnage playing out in CAR. That’s not the true picture; the fact is that both Muslims and Christians are the victims of the ongoing mindless carnage. You failed to give the facts as they are. And here […]
Your story is however misleading. The message portrayed was that Muslims were simply the only victims of the carnage playing out in CAR. That’s not the true picture; the fact is that both Muslims and Christians are the victims of the ongoing mindless carnage. You failed to give the facts as they are. And here it is. The government of Mr Francois Bozize was overthrown in March by Mr Michel Djotodia. Mr Michel Djotodia was assisted to power by Seleka Rebels (a loose coalition of groups) who are mostly Muslims.
On taking over the government, Seleka fighters descended on their Christian counterparts, killing, looting and burning villages. To be fair to Mr Djotodia (a Muslim), he tried everything humanly possible to stop the near genocide situation (including asking for external assistance as he has lost control of the Seleka ex-rebels) but failed and the Seleka fighters (mostly ex-criminals) kept on the killings, raping, torture and looting, even when they were disbanded.
This situation led to self-defence and retaliations that is now seeing Muslims killed and worsening the crisis. The United Nations consequently mandated intervention by France. Central African Republic is a country of 10% Muslims with Christians and animists constituting the remaining 90%.
This will be the first time a Muslim will rule that country. It should be noted that although the country has been politically unstable since independence in 1960, this will be the first time that the situation is assuming religious dimension.
Your report is therefore biased as it failed to report the other side of the story in order to balance it. All forms of killings are wrong, including retaliatory killings; and AU ought to have intervened immediately rather than waiting for France, which came rather late.
Patrick Oguejiofor is the Vice Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja Chapter <[email protected]>;