The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned the heightened violence in the Central African Republic, which has killed scores and injured many more.
“There is no justification for incitement to violence or hate speech,” Guterres said in a statement attributable to his spokesperson.
At least 22 people have been killed and over 100 injured in clashes, which erupted following the arrest of a member of a criminal group by CAR’s security forces.
In the ensuing violence, a pastor was killed after assailants stormed his church during a service.
.Two members of the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country (MINUSCA), were also wounded – one seriously – when they were pelted with stones by a crowd.
In the statement, the UN chief also called on the national authorities to investigate the attacks and promptly bring those responsible to justice.
He reaffirmed his support to the country and to MINUSCA’s role to protect civilians and stabilize the country.
Late last year, clashes between armed groups Mouvement national pour la libération de la Centrafrique (MNLC) and Révolution et Justice (RJ) in north-west CAR forced more than 70,000 people from their homes.
Hundreds continue to flee their homes each week due to the conflict.
The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) last month appealed for urgent funding to meet the needs of thousands of refugees from the country who have sought refuge in Chad.
The agency’s spokesperson Babar Baloch warned that food shortages may have devastating effects on the refugees if funding is not obtained soon.
