Anti-balaka militia originally sprang up to protect the Christian population of the Central African Republic, but now stand accused of human rights abuses themselves. Last month, the African Union branded militia targeting Muslims in Central African Republic as “terrorists” and said they would be treated as enemy combatants, a day after killing a Congolese peacekeeper and amid deepening international frustration at continuing violence in the impoverished and landlocked country.

A masked female member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, sits in the village of Zawa, April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A masked member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, adjusts the scarf of his female comrade before they patrol the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

Members of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrol outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

Members of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrol outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

Members of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrol outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, looks on in the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, walks with his weapons in village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, poses with his machete in village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, stands during a patrol outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrols outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, gestures with his machetes in the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

Members of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrol outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

Members of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrol outside the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, walks with his weapons in the village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A masked female member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, holds a machete as she sits in a village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

A female member of the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, patrols with other militiamen outside village of Zawa April 8, 2014. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)