Hundreds of disarmament militia as part of the peace plan for Africa's C.

Hundreds of fighters from several conflict-ridden Central African Republic militias have laid down their arms, the UN said on Wednesday as the impoverished country struggles to stop bloodshed among armed groups that control large areas of the country. territory.

The nation, plagued by a crisis since the 2013 coup, is striving to disarm and demobilize some 14 rebel groups as part of its latest peace efforts, supported by UN peace MINUSCA.

Up to now, "five groups are already engaged in the process, disarming more than 450 fighters" in the west of the country, said MINUSCA Deputy Chief, Kenneth Gluck, at a press conference in Bangui.

Among them, he stressed the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC), which, he said, had been "completely disarmed", adding that the fighters of the Revolution and Justice (RJ) and the UFR-anti-Balaka militias also surrendered.

He added that the 3R militia, accused of the mbadacre of more than 50 civilians in May, also pledged to lay down their arms.

The bloodshed in villages near the northwestern town of Paoua, near the Chadian border, has been the worst loss of life since the government and the 14 militias signed the government. agreement in February to restore peace in one of the most troubled countries of Africa.

The Muslim-majority Séléka ("alliance") coalition that overthrew President François Bozizé 2013 was officially dissolved the same year before splitting into separate groups, including the 3Rs.

Nominally Christian militias known as anti-Balaka emerged in response to the coup d'etat, accelerating the cycle of sectarian violence.

The UN envoy, Mankeur Ndiaye, stressed the importance of the dialogue to end the unrest, stating: "There is no military alternative to the Central African crisis ".

According to the United Nations, with 11,650 troops and 2,080 police officers deployed, MINUSCA's top priority is protecting civilians and ending everyday violence.

Former colonial power, France intervened militarily from 2013 to 2016 to expel the Seleka, then put an end to the operation.