Tag

The country is predominantly Christian, so the anti-balaka militias emerged in response to the Seleka, an alliance of Muslim rebel groups.

A mass breakout of a few 500 inmates from the central prison on Sunday night, many of them anti-balaka members, fed fears of an escalation of violence.

At least 600 prisoners have escaped from the Ngaragba Central Prison in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), local security sources and eyewitnesses said Tuesday.

Central African Republic erupted into unprecedented violence in late 2013 when a Christian militia formed to combat a Muslim rebel government that had overthrown the president of a decade.

Three hospitals have reported at least 36 dead and 80 wounded. The worker spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.