Children are being cruelly and inhumanely targeted in the violence plaguing the Central Africa Republic (CAR):  At least two bodies of children have been found beheaded, among the 16 known killed since the latest round of fighting began a month ago.

“More and more children are being recruited into armed groups, and they are also being directly targeted in atrocious revenge attacks,” said Souleymane Diabate, Unicef's CAR representative.

Unicef is warning of “unprecedented levels” of violence against children.  One of the children who had been beheaded had also been mutilated, while another 60 had been injured in fighting since 5 December.

“Targeted attacks against children are a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and must stop immediately.  Concrete action is needed now to prevent violence against children,” Diabate said.

The strife has pitted Christian and Muslim militias against each other in revenge attacks.  The communities used to live side-by-side until last March, when Muslim rebel leader Michel Djotodia seized power from then-President Francois Bozize, a Christian.  The majority Christian communities organized their own fighters and began revenge attacks against the minority Muslims.