Destruction Fueled by Difference

The conflict in the Central African Republic has been perpetually developing since our previous update in February of this year. Following the resignation of Pres. Djotodia on 10 January 2014, the balance of military and political power in the Central African Republic, especially in the capital Bangui, has shifted from the predominately Muslim Seleka to the overwhelmingly Christian and animist anti-balaka militia groups. As of March 2014, in approximate terms, the anti-balaka currently control Bangui while the Seleka have almost entirely retreated to the countryside. While the Seleka and anti-balaka have switched roles in terms of control over the capital and countryside, respectively, they both continue to commit widespread human rights abuses, including murder, torture, pillaging, and rape. Each group continues to target civilians who members believe belong to the opposite faith.In Bangui in particular, Muslim civilians continue to be heavily targeted in what is largely viewed as reprisal attacks for abuses committed by Seleka before their retreat from the capital in February of this year.

Just as in 2013, no group of people or entities has much meaningful economic, political, or social control over politics and internal affairs of the CAR. According to BBC News, the United Nations launched a human rights investigation into the violence in the Central African Republic. The UN Security Council ordered the inquiry in December to identify suspects who could be prosecuted for the violence.The most meaningful source of power at this point comes from 1,600 French and 6,000+ African troops currently stationed in the country as part of an EU-AU joint peacekeeping operation called African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA). However, the impact of the peacekeepers thus far on the ground has been limited in Bangui and practically non-existent outside the capital, where various militias and armed groups continue to attack civilians on a daily basis with total impunity

The short and long-term outlook for the CAR is grim to say the least, according to a March 24^th article by Human Rights Watch: “Thousands of civilians are in dire need of immediate protection and assistance in the Central African Republic. One year after a coup by the Seleka rebel coalition, international efforts to address the crisis remain woefully inadequate. There is particularly an urgent need to end impunity for ongoing abuses and ensure accountability for crimes committed by all parties.” Prior to the coup that ousted Pres. Francois Bozize from power in March 2013, the CAR was already one the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in Africa. Hence, the situation has only gotten progressively worse since then.While a transitional government is currently in place, its’ control over the country is tenuous at best. Interim President Samba-Panza has appealed for the end of the bloodshed with little success. Inquiry head Bernard Acho Muna said he hopes the presence of investigators would influence to stop making what he calls "hate propoganda". “I think it is in our mandate to see how one can stop any advances toward genocide.”

(Full Documentary: The Devil Tried to Divide Us: War in the Central African Republic)

Politics, more specifically Identity Politics, is the foundation for the emergence of genocide in the Central African Republic. Looking at the definition of identity politics we see that the majority Christian population in CAR is determined to place Muslims outside of society. The chair of the UN Genocide investigation, Bernard Acho Muna states “genocide starts always with propaganda, convincing the population that this group of people is evil, they are bad, they should be eliminated." This type of propaganda resonates with the Christian’s goal to “cleanse” the CAR.  Identifying who is Christian and who is Muslim benefits only one group, the Christians. More and more Muslims are being killed, tortured, and forced out of the country, less than 1,000 of the 100,000 Muslim population are still living in the capital. This shines light on another underlying issue, Human Rights. While the United Nations is launching an investigation, there is no doubt that genocide is in place. The basic human right of life is being threatened and the UN has shown no force in protecting this right. Regardless of what you identify yourself as, we are all human and that holds more power than the different Gods we choose to worship.

Alongside attacks rooted in religious values, the children of the Central African Republic are facing disgusting and unprecedented brutality due to the current turmoil in their homeland. The impact of the conflict on children is dramatic, with unending reports of innocent children being brutally attacked, maimed, raped, killed, and beheaded. Furthermore, as many as 6,000 children are a part of the armed groups, likely by force. To grow up in the current conditions of the CAR is nothing any of us could understand, and it doesn't seem that the violence will be slowing down any time soon.

While the conflict in the Central African Republic is largely devastating to the lives of civilians, it is also hard on the country's economy. While rich in natural resources like timber, diamonds, and gold, the Central African Republic is mainly a subsistence farming nation, agriculture making up about 60% of the nations economy. Already unstable from poor economic policies and factional fighting, the recent violence in the CAR has decimated the economy. In the words of the head of FairMed, a Swiss NGO, Henry Babila "The economic system [of the Central African Republic] has completely collapsed.” The CAR now depends almost entirely on international donors, like the Islamic Development Bank whose board recently approved $1 million dollars in aid to refugees who have fled the country. And while the interim President Samba-Panza has sketched out some plan for the CAR’s economic future, without any source of revenue and little foreign economic aid, it is hard to see how the country can make any economic progress.

Overall, the genocide in the Central African Republic is more than just militant action or a war between religious groups, it is a massive, destructive force hurting each part of the country. Pushed forward by the differences between Muslims and Christians, this genocide looks as though it will continue through the end of our spring semester, and into the next year.

N/A. (2014, March 10). Central African Republic: UN launches human rights probe. Retrieved from BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26515759

N/A. (2014, March 18). The Central African Republic. Retrieved from CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ct.html

N/A. (2014, March 25). Fresh violence erupts in Central African Republic. Retrieved from euronews: http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/25/fresh-violence-erupts-in-central-african-republic/

N/A. (2014, March 21). Central African Republic: Still a long way to go. Retrieved from The Africa Report: http://www.theafricareport.com/Central-Africa/central-african-republic-still-a-long-way-to-go.html

Nebehay, S., & MacSwan, A. (2014, March 10). U.N. inquiry aims to prevent genocide in Central African Republic. Retrieved from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/10/us-centralafrican-un-inquiry-idUSBREA290I420140310