New president gives hope to war-torn country

Amidst continuing violence in the Central African Republic, a Catholic woman was on 20 January elected the interim president of the country, writes Fredrick Nzwili. Catherine Samba-Panza, 59, the former mayor of the capital Bangui, has the job of leading the divided factions out of the chaos that broke out in March 2013 when Muslim-dominated Seleka rebels overthrew the then president.

A Christian militia organised in response to Seleka, and the disjointed Seleka rebels, have been carrying out revenge attacks on one another since then and a Christian mob killed two Muslims in Bangui on Sunday.

Samba-Panza, a successful businesswoman, is seen as politically neutral. “The leader must be a patriot who loves the country and wants to serve the people,” said Archbishop Nestor-Desire Nongo Aziagbia, of Bossangoa Diocese.