International Crisis Group

CAR: The time for hard questions | Thierry Vircoulon

The violent events at the beginning of October in Central African Republic – the public murders and clashes in the capital, Bangui; the less publicised killings across the nearly ungoverned countryside (an area greater than that of France); the raids along the CAR-Cameroon border – are symptoms of the breakdown of the international community’s security arrangements and of CAR’s interim government itself.

The international focus has understandably been on Bangui, where the transitional government is located. The October clashes made clear that the disarmament efforts by France’s Operation Sangaris have had little effect. Everyone has guns, including citizens simply hoping to protect themselves. Urban insecurity is rife, making it easy to spark a riot. In charge of peacekeeping since 15 September, the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) took its first deadly casualty and is clearly struggling to control the capital, let alone the country.

Bangui’s insecurity exacerbates that of the transitional government; some of the more serious fighting of the past two weeks was just outside interim president Catherine Samba-Panza’s residence. Following the Brazzaville summit at the end of July, the government has so far been unable to guide intercommunity dialogue or to initiate the national consultation as planned. Recent accusations against President Samba-Panza of misdirection of funds from Angola have further weakened her government, which is reaching the dangerous point of being considered by some to be part of the problem rather than of the solution.

FULL ARTICLE (In Pursuit of Peace - Crisis Group Blog)

Photo by International Crisis Group