Here is a snapshot of events since a March 2013 coup in Central African Republic, which holds presidential and parliamentary elections Sunday.<\/p>\n
- March 2013: The fall of Bozize -<\/p>\n
On March 24, rebels from the Muslim-dominated Seleka coalition seize the presidential palace in the capital Bangui. Francois Bozize, who has been in power for 10 years, flees.<\/p>\n
A day later, Seleka leader Michel Djotodia suspends the constitution and says he will rule by decree until elections are held, becoming the first Muslim president of the predominantly Christian country.<\/p>\n
In early September, around 100 people are killed in two days of fighting between Seleka combattants and Christians loyal to Bozize around Bossangoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of the capital.<\/p>\n
Although Djotodia disbands the rebels, some of them go rogue, sparking months of murder, rape and pillage and prompting Christians to form vigilante groups -- the \"anti-balaka\" -- in response.<\/p>\n
- December 2013: France intervenes -<\/p>\n
On December 5, France launches Operation Sangaris in its former colony under a UN mandate, doubling the force it already has in and around Bangui.<\/p>\n
Dozens are killed in bloody clashes between Seleka and anti-balaka militias.<\/p>\n
- January 2014: Djotodia quits -<\/p>\n
On January 10, Djotodia resigns under intense international pressure over his failure to end the violence, after 1,000 people were killed in the previous month alone.<\/p>\n
On January 20, the transitional parliament picks the mayor of Bangui, Catherine Samba Panza, as interim president.<\/p>\n
- September 2014: UN replaces African force -<\/p>\n
On September 15, a new UN mission known as MINUSCA takes up the baton from the African MISCA force, which was backed by French and European troops<\/p>\n
- January 2015: UN probe -<\/p>\n
On January 8, a UN commission of enquiry concludes that both sides in the fighting have committed crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing, but says the international intervention has helped avoid a genocide.<\/p>\n
The commission, set up in January 2014, puts the death toll in the conflict at more than 6,000 and says the priority should be to end impunity.<\/p>\n
- September 2015: New violence -<\/p>\n
On September 26, a new upsurge of clashes begins in the capital, sparked by the murder of a motorcycle-taxi driver in the Muslim-majority PK-5 neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
Violence on an almost daily basis between ex-Seleka and anti-balaka militias has left more than 100 dead in Bangui since late September.<\/p>\n
- November 2015: The pope visits -<\/p>\n
On November 29-30 Pope Francis visits Bangui, saying Christians and Muslims are \"brothers\", and urging them to reject hatred and violence.<\/p>\n
- December 2015: Constitutional referendum and new elections -<\/p>\n
Voters overwhelmingly back a December 13-14 constitutional referendum, clearing the way for parliamentary and presidential polls which take place on December 30.<\/p>\n
However, the first round legislative vote is cancelled over what the Constitutional Court called \"numerous irregularities\" and deferred until February 14, the same time as the second round presidential vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here is a snapshot of events since a March 2013 coup in Central African Republic, which holds presidential and parliamentary elections Sunday. - March 2013: The fall of Bozize - On March 24, rebels from the Muslim-dominated Seleka coalition seize the presidential palace in the capital Bangui. Francois Bozize, who has been in power for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[],"ji_location":[2165],"class_list":["post-25980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-other","ji_location-central-african-republic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n