Hundreds of residents in Central African Republic capital march for freedom

The new territory, which includes the northern town of Kaba-Bangoro, a stronghold of the Muslim militia, was immediately denounced by the country’s transitional government.

A rebel leader of a radical wing of the pro-Muslim Seleka militia in the Central African Republic has declared an autonomous state in the northeastern part of the country.

The following day, Noureddine Adam, a senior Seleka commander also opposed to the elections, declared a republic in areas under his control. Adam said a copy of the declaration, signed on Monday, was given to the United Nations office in Kaga-Bandoro.

It would be recalled that the Central African Republic has been highly volatile since early 2013.

“We are on the side of the people because we want peace”, he said.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement Tuesday praising the “successful completion” of the constitutional referendum, as it showed Central Africans’ “clear desire to decide their country’s future at the ballot box rather than allowing those with weapons to determine the future of their nation”.

The U.N. mission in Central African Republic now has more than 11,000 troops and police are trying to calm the deadly violence. “We call upon the worldwide community and the global forces present in Central African Republic to do everything possible to neutralise the capacity to do harm of these terrorists”, said government spokesman Dominique Said Panguindji. Moussa added that the rebels saw no alternatives.

Central African Republic held a referendum Sunday on a new constitution that would limit the presidency to two terms and create a Senate.

The vote is also being seen as a test of whether a much-delayed national election can take place December 27 as planned. That ushered in a brutal reign in which Muslims committed atrocities. Following the coup, the mainly Christian anti-balaka militia organised to fight against the Seleka and carried out large-scale reprisal attacks against Muslim civilians. Sectarian violence has since continued.