The violence took place in the northern town of Batangafo, the U.N. refugee agency said Wednesday. A preliminary report says that Muslim fighters killed five people in retaliation after two young Muslims had been killed earlier in the day there.
Charles Mballa, the UNHCR's deputy representative in the country, condemned the "horrific acts."
Tensions are mounting ahead of national elections set for late December in Central African Republic. As a result of violence over the last few years, some 860,000 people have been forced from their homes. Pope Francis is due to visit the capital later this month.
News from The Associated Press