Central African Republic elects Catherine Samba-Panza as New interim President

Catherine Samba-Panza

According to (Reuters), Catherine Samba-Panza has been elected as the new Interim President of Central African Republic, (CAR).

Central African Republic's transitional parliament elected the mayor of Bangui, Catherine Samba-Panza, as interim president on Monday, with the responsibility of ending the sectarian crisis  in the country

Samba-Panza, former Mayor of Bangui defeated  seven other candidates to succeeds Michel Djotodia, the leader of the Seleka rebels who seized power in March.

Djotodia stepped down on January 10 under intense international pressure after failing to halt inter-religious violence which has claimed many lives.

More than a million people have been displaced by the violence since Seleka installed their Muslim leader Michel Djotodia as interim president. United Nation (UN) has warned of possible genocide if something drastic is not done to end the sectarian crisis.

African Union has sent nearly 4,000 troops while France, the former colonial power, has also deployed 1,600 soldiers to be curb the violence.