20 killed over cattle sales

On 12 April 2009 at least 20 people were killed and several dozen others were injured in clashes over the sale of cattle at a market approximately 8 mi/13 km north of the Central African Republic capital, Bangui. Approximately 170 cattle had been brought to the market to return to their owners after bandits stole them several days earlier. The fighting broke out when traders wanted to sell the cattle, while farmers wanted to claim at least some of them back. Guns, knives and arrows were used during the incident. The social affairs minister appealed for calm and an end to the violence in a radio broadcast. There have been no reports of spillover violence in Bangui thus far.