Former rebel chief who joined new
government after signing of July 2014 peace
agreement snatched in capital Bangui.
Central African Republic , Africa
Violence between rival factions has plunged
the country into an unprecedented political
and security crisis [EPA]
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Armed men have kidnapped the Central
African Republic (CAR) minister for sport and
young people and former rebel chief,
according to his wife, prompting
condemnation by the government.
Sunday's kidnapping of Armel Ningatoloum
Sayo while he was returning from church in
the capital Bangui was the first of a member
of the government.
Nicaise Danielle Sayo, wife of Sayo, said she
and her husband were returning from church
on Sunday morning when the kidnappers
stopped them.
Another source close to the family said that
the kidnappers who were travelling in a taxi
blocked Sayo's car.
"Three men got out and fired into the air. The
minister asked them 'what's the problem' but
they just indicated him to get into the taxi ...
then they left," the source said.
Sayo is the former leader of the Revolution
and Justice movement based in the country's
northeast, but entered the government of
Mahamat Kamoun after the signing of a
peace agreement in July 2014.
No group have claimed responsibility for the
kidnapping.
Snatched and freed
On Monday, Claudia Priest, a French aid
worker, was snatched by the
country's Christian anti-balaka militia and
subsequently freed.
Priest, 67, who arrived back in France on
Sunday, was kidnapped along with a local
man.
A UN employee was also briefly detained by
the anti-balaka the following day.
Thousands of #CARcrisis refugees fled to
north #DRC since Dec. More continue to
cross the Oubangui River every day
pic.twitter.com/wNOSoYnK0r
— Céline Schmitt (@Ce_Schmitt) January
24, 2015
CAR's government condemned Sayo's
kidnapping as yet another act of "barbarism"
by assailants aiming to to create instability.
Violence between rival factions has plunged
the deeply impoverished country into an
unprecedented political and security crisis.
The conflict that began in 2013 has claimed
thousands of lives.
The anti-balaka are mainly Christian fighters
formed to fight off relentless attacks from
mostly Muslim fighters of the Seleka
coalition.
The Seleka seized power in March 2013 but
were routed from Bangui in January last year.
Anti-balaka means "anti-machete" in the local
Sango language and refers to the weapon of
choice wielded by the Seleka - but also taken
up by the vigilantes.
Both groups have been accused of serious
abuses against civilians.
Source: AFP
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