\n Central African Republic plunged into bloody sectarian violence in 2013 with the overthrow of president Francois Bozize by mainly Muslim rebels, prompting a counter-offensive by Christian militias.\n<\/p>\n
\n Here is a snapshot of the main events.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Coup -\n<\/p>\n
\n On March 24, 2013 rebels from a Muslim-dominated coalition called Seleka -- which means \"alliance\" in the Sango language -- seize the capital Bangui after running battles with government forces.\n<\/p>\n
\n Bozize, a Christian who has been in power for 10 years, flees.\n<\/p>\n
\n Seleka leader Michel Djotodia proclaims himself president of the predominantly Christian country.\n<\/p>\n
\n European Union condemns the coup as \"unacceptable\" and the African Union suspends the country's membership.\n<\/p>\n
\n In early September, around 100 people are killed in two days of fighting between Seleka rebels and Christians loyal to Bozize around Bossangoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of the capital.\n<\/p>\n
\n Christians form vigilante self-defence groups that are known as anti-Balaka, which means anti-machete.\n<\/p>\n
\n - France intervenes -\n<\/p>\n
\n With sectarian violence engulfing the country, leaving hundreds dead, former colonial power France intervenes, sending troops in under a UN mandate in early December.\n<\/p>\n
\n A combined force of 2,000 French troops and 4,000 African Union soldiers is put in place.\n<\/p>\n
\n In January 2014, Djotodia resigns under international pressure over his failure to end the violence. Parliament elects an interim president.\n<\/p>\n
\n In September, a new UN mission known as MINUSCA takes over from the African MISCA force.\n<\/p>\n
\n - 'Thousands' killed -\n<\/p>\n
\n In January 2015, a UN investigation concludes that both sides in the conflict had committed crimes against humanity, including \"ethnic cleansing\", but found the international intervention helped avoid a genocide.\n<\/p>\n
\n It put the death toll in the \"thousands\".\n<\/p>\n
\n In December that year, voters overwhelmingly back a constitutional referendum creating a sixth republic and setting a two-term limit to the presidency.\n<\/p>\n
\n In a run-off vote on February 14, 2016 former prime minister Faustin-Archange Touadera is elected president.\n<\/p>\n
\n France ends its military operation in late October.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Renewed violence -\n<\/p>\n
\n Sectarian violence flares again in May 2017 in the central towns of Bangassou, Alindao and Bria, forcing tens of thousands to flee.\n<\/p>\n
\n The United Nations expresses alarm about \"widespread instability\".\n<\/p>\n
\n In late June around 100 people are killed in Bria.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Peace initiatives -\n<\/p>\n
\n From July 2017, the African Union begins efforts to bring armed groups and the government together for peace talks.\n<\/p>\n
\n In April and May 2018, Bangui's PK5 Muslim neighbourhood is the scene of deadly violence.\n<\/p>\n
\n In late July, three Russian journalists are killed as they investigate the activities of Russian mercenaries in CAR.\n<\/p>\n
\n In August, in parallel with AU mediation efforts, Russia and Sudan organise a meeting in Khartoum between rival armed groups.\n<\/p>\n
\n The government launches a disarmament process.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Arrests -\n<\/p>\n
\n In October 2018, a Special Criminal Court is inaugurated to try war crimes and violations of human rights since 2003.\n<\/p>\n
\n Barely a month later, there is a new upsurge in violence with at least 60 people, including two priests, killed in clashes in Alindao between Muslim-dominated militias and anti-Balaka forces.\n<\/p>\n
\n The same month former anti-Balaka chief Alfred Yekatom, accused of crimes against humanity, is handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.\n<\/p>\n
\n In January 2019, CAR football chief Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, is also handed over to the Hague court a month after being arrested in France on an ICC warrant that describes him as the \"most senior leader\" of the anti-Balaka.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Peace initiative -\n<\/p>\n
\n On January 24, 2019, a new round of AU-sponsored peace talks opens in Khartoum, bringing together the government and 14 armed groups.\n<\/p>\n
\n It results in a new peace accord, the eighth such agreement to be reached since the violence began in 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Central African Republic plunged into bloody sectarian violence in 2013 with the overthrow of president Francois Bozize by mainly Muslim rebels, prompting a counter-offensive by Christian militias. Here is a snapshot of the main events. - Coup - On March 24, 2013 rebels from a Muslim-dominated coalition called Seleka -- which means \"alliance\" in the […]<\/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":[553],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-40222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n