Establishing peace in the Central African Republic
Over nine months, the weak Central African Republic (CAR) state has collapsed, triggering a serious humanitarian crisis, with 400,000 displaced and nearly half the population in need of assistance. The transition government and the regional security force have failed to prevent a descent into chaos in urban areas, in particular Bangui, as well as in the countryside. After months of “wait-and-see” and following deadly clashes, the international community now realises it cannot afford another collapsed state in Africa. Unfortunately, the situation on the ground is deteriorating at a much faster pace than the international mobilisation, and Bangui is vulnerable to a total breakdown in law and order.
The risk of the CAR becoming ungovernable that Crisis Group highlighted in June 2013 is now real. The Seleka, a loose coalition of armed groups that took power in a March 2013 coup, has broken up into multiple armed factions, whose thuggery has triggered violent reactions among the population. Further, the conflict has taken on a religious undercurrent between the predominantly Muslim Seleka and Christian self-defence groups.The CAR faces a number of major challenges: in the short term, restoring law and order and providing immediate humanitarian aid; in the medium term, ensuring that the eighteen-month transition agreed to by the Seleka leaders and other political actors is managed in an effective and sustainable manner; and in the long term, rebuilding the state. Successful transition and reconstruction can only be achieved if minimum security conditions are met. Instability has already spilled over the Cameroon border, and the combination of religious tensions and powerless transitional authorities is the perfect recipe for further deadly clashes between local populations and the various Seleka factions, especially in Bangui.
The risk of the CAR becoming ungovernable that Crisis Group highlighted in June 2013 is now real. The Seleka, a loose coalition of armed groups that took power in a March 2013 coup, has broken up into multiple armed factions, whose thuggery has triggered violent reactions among the population. Further, the conflict has taken on a religious undercurrent between the predominantly Muslim Seleka and Christian self-defence groups.The CAR faces a number of major challenges: in the short term, restoring law and order and providing immediate humanitarian aid; in the medium term, ensuring that the eighteen-month transition agreed to by the Seleka leaders and other political actors is managed in an effective and sustainable manner; and in the long term, rebuilding the state. Successful transition and reconstruction can only be achieved if minimum security conditions are met. Instability has already spilled over the Cameroon border, and the combination of religious tensions and powerless transitional authorities is the perfect recipe for further deadly clashes between local populations and the various Seleka factions, especially in Bangui.
Useful Links
-Articles and Statistics:
http://www.vice.com/en_se/tag/Central+African+Republic
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/01/201316201622291808.html
http://www.au.int/en/
http://www.usaid.gov/crisis/central-african-republic
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43377.pdf
http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-the-central-african-republic
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27727465
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/special-report/central-african-republic-state-silent-crisis
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/qa-central-african-republic-s-human-rights-crisis-2014-04-09
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/09/seleka-expels-members-from-car-government-2014911418854785.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/08/car-get-7600-un-peacekeepers-next-month-20148201018862212.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/world/africa/central-african-republic-q-and-a/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13150040
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13150044
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ct.html
http://africanhistory.about.com/od/car/l/bl-CAR-Timeline-1.htm
-Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XhAmRXRzRk (John Green explains the crisis in C.A.R)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoQAxQgevEA (Full length documentary)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP87Iu2wJ14 ( Timeline of the conflict)
-Articles and Statistics:
http://www.vice.com/en_se/tag/Central+African+Republic
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/01/201316201622291808.html
http://www.au.int/en/
http://www.usaid.gov/crisis/central-african-republic
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43377.pdf
http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-the-central-african-republic
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27727465
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/special-report/central-african-republic-state-silent-crisis
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/qa-central-african-republic-s-human-rights-crisis-2014-04-09
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/09/seleka-expels-members-from-car-government-2014911418854785.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/08/car-get-7600-un-peacekeepers-next-month-20148201018862212.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/world/africa/central-african-republic-q-and-a/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13150040
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13150044
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ct.html
http://africanhistory.about.com/od/car/l/bl-CAR-Timeline-1.htm
-Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XhAmRXRzRk (John Green explains the crisis in C.A.R)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoQAxQgevEA (Full length documentary)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP87Iu2wJ14 ( Timeline of the conflict)