Mayor Catherine Samba-Panza won in a runoff vote Monday.
BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Members of a national transitional council have chosen the lady mayor of Central African Republic's capital to lead the country out of chaos.
In a vote Monday, Mayor Catherine Samba-Panza won with 75 votes in a runoff vote against the son of a former president.
Samba-Panza now faces the enormous task of stemming anarchy and bloodshed in Central African Republic, where more than 1,000 people were killed in just two days in the capital last month.
The country's political crisis following a March 2013 coup has devolved into a sectarian conflict pitting the rebel leader's Muslim fighters against an armed Christian militia.
The rebel leader who seized power stepped down 10 days ago, clearing the way for Samba-Panza's election. Her government will be tasked with organizing national election before year-end.
