4 killed, 7 missing, 200 houses torched in Central African Republic attack

At least four people were killed and seven others are still missing following an attack that was attributed to the Chadian rebel movement called Baba Lade in Bang town, northwest of Central African Republic's border with Cameroon, a religious source told Xinhua on Monday evening. According to the source, over 200 houses were razed down in the concerned area. The attack was revealed during an operation by the African Union-led International Support Mission for Central African Republic (MISCA) deployed on Dec. 19, 2013 to restore peace and security in the country, following an escalation of violence after ex-Seleka rebels led by Michel Djotodia took power in March 2013. Father Aurelio, the priest of Bozoum parish neighboring Bang, told Xinhua on phone, the Chadian rebels were dislodged in a joint operation of the Cameroonian troops under MISCA and the self- defense anti-Balaka militia. The priest said the violence forced many local people to flee into the bush. Since their arrival in Bang, fighters of Baba Lade allied to ex- Seleka rebels have been engaging in acts of looting and committing other abuses against the local people, just like the ex-rebels themselves as well as the anti-Balaka militia, whose leaders recently agreed to work closely with Transition President Catherine Samba Panza. Rebels headed by Gen. Baba Lade first appeared in Central African Republic in 2009 and were dislodged from their bases in Ouadago and Kaga Barondo by Central African Republic's forces and Chadian troops in March 2012.