Mining amid conflict in the Central African Republic

Despite reserves of gold and diamonds, the Central African Republic remains one of Africa's poorest countries. The United Nations Security Council on Thursday authorized the creation of a nearly 12,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic in a bid to end violence between Christians and Muslims that has threatened to spiral into genocide. At least 13 people were killed when Christian militia forces, known as the 'anti-balaka,' attacked a town held by Muslim Seleka rebels in a rural area of Central African Republic this week, residents said on Thursday. (Reuters)