Central African Republic: Militia seize police officers

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AA) – Six policemen were abducted Sunday by a group of militiamen in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui, official sources confirmed Monday.

"Negotiations are ongoing with the kidnappers for the release of the six policemen," Security Minister Jean Serge Bokassa told reporters.

"The assailants asked for the release of four of their men that were arrested on Saturday during a police raid,” he added.

Addressing the families of the kidnapped officers, Bokassa said the government would do everything to secure their release.

Residents of the troubled PK5 district told Anadolu Agency there had been a lot of fear and panic in the neighborhood since the news of the kidnapping broke.

Sunday's incident shatters the Central African Republic's relative peace since the election of Faustin-Archange Touadera as president in February.

The country was rocked by a sectarian conflict which ran from 2013 to early 2016.

More than 500,000 people fled their homes to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon and Chad.