Greater protection for MPs needed in CAR following assassination

A woman cries for a relative killed during one of the latest incidents of sectarian violence in CAR, which has left nearly 25 per cent of the population displaced. ©REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

IPU has called for greater protection of MPs in the Central African Republic (CAR) following the assassination of parliamentarian Jean-Emmanuel Ndjaroua on 9th February in Bangui.

Ndjaroua was a member of the National Transition Council (NTC), the body that took over legislative work after the parliament of the Central African Republic (CAR) was dissolved following a coup d'état in March 2013.

A representative of the eastern region of Haute Kotto, Ndjaroua had publicly condemned violence against Muslim residents of his district the day before his assassination. Two of his own children had also been killed a fortnight ago.

According to local sources, Ndjaroua had spoken against the violence during a special meeting of the NTC on 8th February. Members had asked acting Prime Minister André Nzapayeké to step up the government´s efforts to put an end to the sectarian violence in CAR which has left nearly 25 per cent of the population displaced.

Ndjaroua was reportedly shot by gunmen as he arrived home.

At least 11 people were killed in separate incidents during the weekend in inter-religious violence between the Christian majority and Muslims accused of links to a former rebel group, Seleka. The group had seized power last year after the coup d’état and ruled until January this year.

IPU is calling for all violence to end and for members of the NTC to be given the protection they need to ensure the legislative body can do its work and help the population as a whole.

“Those who are responsible for this killing should be found immediately and held to account. It would send a clear signal to everyone that such violence will not go unpunished and there is a determined effort to deter further attacks,” said IPU Secretary General Anders B. Johnsson.