Central African Republic Horrors.

Islamist militants in the Central African Republic have launched a campaign of violence against Christians which has left many dead or seriously wounded.The Séléka rebels, who seized control of the country on March 24, are targeting pastors and other Christian workers, and attacking and looting Christian places of worship and homes. Séléka means ‘union’ in the Sango language.There have also been reports of Christians being tied up, beaten and forced to hand over money to save their lives. Already, some 173,000 people are displaced internally, and almost 50,000 have sought refuge abroad, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.One pastor described the current situation as a ‘reign of terror’, reporting that the rebels had a ‘hit list’ of prominent Christians they wanted to kill.Human Rights Watch reports ‘grave violations’, including pillage, summary executions, rape and torture. In one incident it documented, rebels attacked a funeral procession in the capital, Bangui, firing at mourners and killing the pastor as he appealed for peace.

Church leaders have called on the country’s new President, Michel Djotodia, to condemn the violence – but fear that he wants to create an Islamic republic.