CAR: Besieged Muslims face Murder, starvation in Central African Republic

By Emmanuel Braun
BODA Central African Republic (Reuters) - In
normal times, the rickety wooden bridges at
each end of the red-dirt main street in Boda
were gateways to shops and a bustling
market in the diamond-mining town in
Central African Republic.
Today, they mark the fine line between life
and death for hundreds of Muslims living
under siege, encircled by Christian 'anti-
balaka' militia fighters bent on chasing out
the country's Islamic population.
"We live in a prison," said Adou Kone, a
tailor. "Everything is blocked, nothing comes
in. It's very expensive to buy food ... Our life
is at a critical stage."
Boda illustrates the chaos that has gripped
Central African Republic since late 2012
when a battle for political power degenerated
into clashes between Muslims and Christians
that have forced about 1 million people from
their homes.
If they stray beyond either bridge, Muslims in
Boda say they would be killed, like
thousands of other victims of tit-for-tat
violence that continues despite the
deployment of French and African
peacekeepers.
French flags hang from some shacks and a
handful of French armoured vehicles
sporadically patrol the town, 115 km (70
miles) west of the capital Bangui. In the
Muslim neighbourhood, a banner praises
French troops - recognition that their plight
would have been far worse without the
deployment.
The crisis abruptly ended a proud history of
Muslims living in harmony alongside the
majority Christian population and has
prompted warnings of genocide in the former
French colony.
"We can wait for 10 years for them to leave -
and if they don't leave, we will still be there,
holding our positions," said Captain Dopani
Firmin, the 'anti-balaka' chief in Boda,
wearing a red Paris St Germain football shirt.