By Hassan Isilow
BANGUI
Andre Nzapayeke, newly-appointed interim prime minister of the troubled Central African Republic (CAR), vowed Friday to punish any soldiers involved in this week's lynching of an alleged ex-seleka fighter.
"We're currently investigating the lynching case and will ensure that all those involved are punished," Nzapayeke told a press conference at his office in capital Bangui.
He condemned the incident, saying it was wrong for the country's national army to be caught up by emotions and seek revenge on ex-seleka fighters.
"Since independence, the national army has been well-behaved, protecting citizens and the country’s borders," Nzapayeke said.
"But because of this crisis, some soldiers have sided with the militia, which is wrong," he added.
This week, the world was shocked after CAR soldiers lynched an innocent bystander who they accused of being an ex-seleka fighter.
The brutal incident happened minutes after interim President Catherine Samba-Panza had finished inspecting a military parade and addressing the troops.
Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director for Human Rights Watch who was present at the scene, told AA that the soldiers "set his body on fire, while everybody around was laughing and taking photos with their mobile phones."
Captured on video, the shocking incident left many wondering whether the national army was capable of providing protection for all of the polarized country's ethno-religious groups.
CAR descended into anarchy in March 2013 when Seleka rebels – said to be mostly Muslim – ousted Francois Bozize, a Christian, who had come to power in a 2003 coup, and installed Michel Djotodia as interim president.
In the months since, the country has been plagued by tit-for-tat sectarian violence between the anti-balaka and former seleka fighters.
In January, Bangui mayor Samba-Panza was sworn in as new interim president replacing Djotodia, the country's first Muslim president since its 1960 independence from France, after the latter stepped down under international and regional pressure.
Rebuilding
Nzapayeke said he had asked Central African regional leaders, who he met on the sidelines of a recent African Union Summit in Ethiopia, for technical and financial support.
"I asked Central African regional leaders to help us with technical and financial support," he told reporters.
Nzapayeke explained that the money would help pay the salaries of civil servants, some of whom had not been paid for the past four months.
The interim premier added that the government was also negotiating the purchase of weapons with which to equip the national army.
He described the rebuilding of the country's collapsed institutions as his government's top priority.
"If we don't rebuild some of the collapsed institutions, civil servants will continue to stay home and demand salaries at the end of the month," he said. "How would the country then be developed?"
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