The country's first Muslim leader steps down along with his prime minister
President Michel Djotodia had faced pressure to step down from leaders in the region because of his failure to stop inter-religious violence in the country, reports Reuters. He and prime minister Nicolas Tiangaye both agreed to step down, according to a statement issued by Central African regional body CEEAC
Djotodia, who became president in March after a coup led by the Seleka rebel group, was the country’s first Muslim leader. Over the past year the country has descended into turmoil amid violence between Christian and Muslim militias that has forced over 1 million people from their homes. Earlier this week, the United Nations warned that the country was heading toward a humanitarian disaster.
Reuters reports that the search for a new leader will take place in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic , at a later date.
[Reuters]
.........
Michel Djotodia, Central African Republic's president, is to
quit - according to regional officials. Photograph: Jerome
Delay/AP
The president and the prime minister of Central African
Republic are stepping down, a top regional official has
announced.
The announcement was made on Friday by Ahmat Allami, the
secretary general of the regional bloc of central African
states.
The rebel leader Michel Djotodia seized power in a March
2013 coup when thousands of his fighters stormed the
capital. He was later installed as president while the longtime
opposition leader Nicolas Tiangaye became prime minister.
However, the country has tilted toward anarchy in the months
that have followed and the violence has turned Muslim and
Christian communities against each other.
A Christian militia attempted a coup in early December,
unleashing days of bloodshed on the streets of the capital
that left more than 1,000 people dead.
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