Obama orders sanctions against 5 Central African Republic officials

President Obama levied sanctions against five individuals linked to sectarian violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Tuesday, amid bloody fighting between Muslims and Christians within the war-torn country.

The economic sanctions hit leaders on both sides of the conflict, which was sparked when former CAR President Francois Bozize was overthrown by the Seleka, an alliance of Muslim rebel groups, in March 2013. 

{mosads}Upon seizing power, Muslim fighters began killing and looting sprees in the capital city of Bangui, prompting Christian fighters loyal to Bozize to retaliate. The subsequent violence has led tens of thousands of Muslim refugees to flee to neighboring countries.

Bozize and Levi Yakite, a political coordinator for the Christian fighters, were among those who will have any American-held assets frozen, the White House said Tuesday. Former transitional President Michel Djotodia, and Noureddine Adam, the former minister of public security are among the rebel leaders facing penalties.

The move is designed to send “a powerful message that impunity will not be tolerated and that those who threaten the stability of the CAR will face consequences,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

“Growing attacks perpetrated by both Muslim and Christian militias have brought CAR to a crisis of disastrous proportions,” Carney said.

In January, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution allowing the international body also to impose sanctions in a bid to stabilize the conflict. Earlier this week, the U.N. moved to sanction Bozize, Yatke, and Adam.

The White House said it would continue to work with the international community and regional partners to end the atrocities.

“We will continue to provide support to the Transitional Government as it works to restore governance and pave the way for a return to an elected government, and to deliver humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict,” Carney said. “We urge all parties to end the violence, to ensure justice and accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses, and to work together to forge a brighter and more prosperous future for all Central Africans.”