Revenge in the Central African Republic

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A mob of Muslims attack and attempt to lynch a Christian man, second from left, who works transporting goods to the market, in a revenge-attack for the killing of one of their community members. He escaped. January 23, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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A Muslim woman trapped by violence in the PK13 neighborhood near Bangui prays in her compound as local Christians and anti-balaka militias burn and loot Muslim homes. She was trapped for hours with other residents, including children, until French peacekeepers evacuated them one kilometer down the road to the PK12 Muslim neighborhood that had not yet been destroyed. January 22, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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A wounded anti-balaka fighter in the neighborhood of PK12 sits under the watch of French peacekeepers as he waits for the Red Cross to arrive and evacuate him. He was wounded with a machete in the PK11 neighborhood near a Seleka base. January 23, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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The body of Mohammed, 20, killed by a grenade from anti-balaka forces in the PK12 neighborhood of Bangui while searching for food. During preparations for his burial, the mosque was attacked and everyone had to flee. January 23, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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Local Christians, including children, loot and burn homes in the Muslim neighborhood of PK13 located on the outskirts of Bangui. After the Seleka’s self-appointed president, Michael Djotodia, was forced from power on January 10th and fled into exile, many Seleka fighters also fled. Anti-balaka forces moved in attacking and killing the Muslim population and destroying their homes and mosques. January 22, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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A man runs through a burning home in the PK 13 neighborhood located on the outskirts of Bangui, where Christians looted and burned Muslim homes. After the Seleka’s self-appointed president, Michael Djotodia, was forced from power on January 10th and fled into exile, many Seleka fighters also fled Bangui. Anti-balaka forces moved into Bangui’s Muslim neighborhoods attacking and killing civilians and destroying their homes and mosques. January 23, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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Rwandan troops from the African Union peacekeeping mission (MISCA) move into the Muslim neighborhood of PK13 to try to stop the looting by local Christians. January 23, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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Anti-balaka fighters in their base near the Bangui airport. After the Seleka’s self-appointed president, Michael Djotodia, was forced from power on January 10th and fled into exile, many Seleka fighters also fled and anti-balaka forces moved in and took revenge against the local Muslim population. January 24, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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Father Xavier-Arnauld Fagba with local Muslims sheltering in his care at St. Pierre’s Church in Boali. He sought out and offered sanctuary to 700 Muslims in his town who were under attack by anti-balaka forces. January 26, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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Residents took to the streets in Bangui to celebrate the departure of Seleka forces who were escorted out of their neighborhood by French peacekeepers to a centralized location in PK11. Since March 2013, the Seleka ruled through absolute terror, burning hundreds of villages and firing randomly on the terrified mostly Christian population wherever they encountered them. January 28, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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Residents took to the streets in Bangui to celebrate the departure of Seleka forces who were escorted out of their neighborhood by French peacekeepers to a centralized location in PK11. Since March 2013, the Seleka ruled through absolute terror, burning hundreds of villages and firing randomly on the terrified mostly Christian population wherever they encountered them. January 28, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
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French soldiers try to clear any remaining weapons at the Seleka base Camp Kasai after escorting Seleka forces to a centralized location in the neighborhood of PK11. January 28, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 426935
After the Seleka’s self-appointed president, Michel Djotodia, was forced from power by the international community on January 10, 2014, and fled to exile, members of the Central African Republic's Muslim communities are facing the wrath of the Christian anti-balaka militia. Photographs by Marcus Bleasdale/VII
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