Tag: African

the story So Far

The security and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has deteriorated rapidly over the past several weeks. A coalition of rebel groups backed by former President Francois Bozis has occupied important territories throughout the country. These forces are trying to reverse the results of the December presidential elections, in which incumbent President Foustein-Arches Toudera was declared the winner. Mr. Boziz was not allowed on the ballot. Post-election violence has made matters worse for the millions of people who have already been under a communal conflict for years.

Who is fighting whom?

Since 2013, the CA has been experiencing violent inter-religious and inter-communal conflict. The Celica rebellion began as a reaction to the underdevelopment and oppression of the northern Muslim population by Mr. Boily’s government. After the overthrow of Mr. Bozies in March 2013, Selka (whose name is Ekta in Sango) was killed and murdered throughout the country, particularly in the capital of the Republic, Bungee Mohallas. The Selkas are mainly Muslims from the northeast of the CAR as well as a significant number of Chadian and Sudanese foreign fighters.

Celica took power in 2013. Its head, Michel Jotodia, became the first CAR president to come to power without active intervention from France. In September 2013 Mr. Jotodia, unable to handle his militia, agreed to dissolve Celica. This decision, however, failed to stop the killings. The violence provoked the Christian Anti-Balaka (‘Anti-Machette’) coalition, triggering a cycle of violence that quickly turned into a communal conflict. Mr Jotodia was pressured to resign in the midst of the violence in 2014. Despite electing a new leader in 2016, the country is placed in tit-for-tat inter-communal violence and political instability.

Who is behind the new crisis?

The G5 + group – which includes France, Russia, the United States, the European Union, the African Union and the World Bank – issued a joint statement asking rebel groups and Mr. Bozies to bear arms. Mr Boazze, who appointed Mr Toudera as Prime Minister in 2008, returned to CAR in December 2019 after six years of exile in DR Congo, Benin and Cameroon. There is an international warrant against Mr. Bozies and the United Nations sanctions for alleged killings, torture, and arbitrary arrests under his presidency. Mr. Bozies is accused of leading a coalition of rebel groups keen on disintegration by the United Nations and the CAR government.

What is France’s role in CAR?

In the CAR, France has a history of periodic military intervention, most recently during 2013–2016. After its independence in 1960 the car continues to rely on the aid of France. Nearly every car president gained power in a French-backed coup. For example, Mr. Bozies seized power in 2003 in a French-backed takeover. The CAR also retained the colonial currency, the CFA Franc, with a significant proportion of its national reserves in the Central Bank of France. In recent years, Russia has also started playing a big role in the country. In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, condemned the recent violence and reiterated his condemnation of Boziz.

What does Russia want in a car?

In 2017, Russia began to expand its participation in the CAR following Mr. Toudera’s request to supply arms to the FACA (Central African Armed Forces). FACA was under UN armed maneuvers due to political instability and systemic abuse of human rights. Mr. Toudera and the Transitional Government were requested by the UNSC to raise the Embargo and equip the military, insisting that it is the best way to provide security and recover the area occupied by terrorist forces. Russia received an exception for Embargo in December 2017 and equipped the CAR with weapons and training.

Moscow also provided Mr. Toudera with a personal security advisor and he set up a large training camp for the Banungi Car Army in the southwest. Russia intervened in the African Union negotiations between the CAR government and terrorist groups in 2018 by taking its peace initiative with Sudan. France’s move was severely criticized by Russia’s move. Ultimately, the African Union decided to bring the Russia-Sudan initiative under it, which led to the Khartoum Peace Agreement in February 2019. To sign the pact, Russia flew 14 of the rebel leaders to Khartoum. Russia’s involvement in the CAR is widely seen as part of its larger struggle for global influence. Russia is mostly interested in trading weapons of natural resources, such as gold, minerals and rare earth elements.