The monitoring mission’s preliminary findings highlighted that on 5 December, anti-Balaka forces mounted coordinated attacks against the ex-Séléka in Bangui, also deliberately targeting Muslim civilians, including women and children.

The same day, the French military launched ‘Operation Sangaris’ aimed at restoring security and providing support to the African-led peace keeping operation

“The attack of 5 December in Bangui prompted a series of reprisals by ex-Séléka and anti-Balaka, which spiraled into sectarian violence against and between Muslim and Christian civilians in the capital and elsewhere in the country. An estimated 1,000 persons were killed in Bangui as a result of the 5 and 6 December violence.”