UN mission welcomes release of kidnapped CAR minister

The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) welcomed the release of a government minister of the Central African Republic (CAR), who was kidnapped last month, a UN spokesperson said Wednesday.

Armel Ningatoloum Sayo, the minister of Youth and Sports, was released on Tuesday. "The Head of MINUSCA, Babacar Gaye, reiterated his call on all parties, including armed groups, to join immediately the current momentum for national reconciliation and social cohesion for the return of lasting peace in the Central African Republic," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a regular briefing at the UN headquarters.

MINUSCA also strongly condemned the act of kidnapping, saying such actions only complicate the current crisis that the international community is helping CAR to solve.

Sayo was abducted on Jan. 25 in the capital of Bangui by armed men believed to belong to the Christian anti-Balaka militia group. MINUSCA noted that his release is "the result of multiple efforts. "

The CAR has been embroiled in sectarian violence for more than a year since Seleka rebels were ousted from power in January 2014, triggering inter-communal retaliatory attacks between anti-Balaka militia group and Seleka rebels.

On the humanitarian side, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Kyung-wha Kang Wednesday visited Bambari in the CAR and met displaced people and representatives of both Muslim and Christian communities, said Dujarric.

Kang urged the community leaders to help promote inter-communal dialogue. She also warned that in the current worldwide context of multiple crises, the biggest threat to the CAR people is that this crisis becomes forgotten. Endite