More than 500 people, including two French soldiers, have been killed in the Central African Republic in the past week. Following the ouster of the sitting president by an Islamic rebel group, Christians throughout the country have been victims of sectarian violence and horrific attacks. In response to the on-going conflict, France (CAR is a former French colony) deployed 1,600 soldiers on a peacekeeping mission. Yesterday, two French paratroopers in their early 20s were killed in the conflict. Throughout CAR, largely Christian villages have formed militias to protect themselves from the Muslim rebels, who have committed atrocities across the country. More than 400,000 people have fled their homes in an effort to escape the violence, as human rights organizations warn that if international intervention does not take place soon, a catastrophic humanitarian crisis may develop …
