C.A.R. ON THE BRINK OF GENOCIDE

Just this week, the UN held hearing on the possible evolution of the Central African Republic into a failed state.  One of the testimonies heard was that of Col. Romeo Dallaire, a survivor of the Rwandan Massacre, who was at the time stationed in Rwanda as part of the UN contingent.  Mr. Dallaire, who has written a book on the fatal days that preceded it and the massacre itself, was again warning the UN of the very real, and stark possibility of another genocide in the Central African Republic. 

Although many politicians and even military in the C.A.R. repeatedly dismiss the notion that the country is out of control, the reality is that the genocide is already under way, although its numbers are still limited. 

The presence of a small contingent of French armies does not seem to have quelled the possibility of widespread murder. France has already appealed without much result to the rest of the European community to come to its aid in bringing the restive country under control.

At heart in the C.A.R. are not tribal division, but rather religious ones. Seleka rebels, who are Muslim, have seized power, and although they had promised to lay down their arms, some of the rebels seem to have changed their objective and are now contemplating holding power and transforming the C.A.R. into an Islamic Republic.  The Anti-Balaka rebels on the other hand, are trying to defeat their opponents and reaffirm the rights of the majority Christian country as a democracy. 

The Anti-Balaka rebels are a gang that was born out of self defense, as Seleka rebels defied the orders of their commanders and started looting and killing in predominantly Christian areas.  That in turn has initiated the spiraling violence that sees retaliation on both sides.

In Muslim areas, people are faring just as badly, as Anti-Balaka rebels retaliate for Muslim crimes committed against Christian communities. 

The problem in the C.A.R. is that all the efforts to elect or appoint a leader who can bring the country to some order are thwarthed by the fact that the country has collapsed economically and politically, and that every service and function has been paralyzed by the civil strife.

Already half of the population has fled, and more are been driven away on each side by opposing rebel factions. 

The African Union has vowed to send nearly 5000 soldiers to the C.A.R., but time might be running out.  

Because medical structure and health services are gone, there is also the very real possibility of outbreaks. 


Source : France 24/ 1.17.13