Originally published on the CGS blog on February 14, 2014.
The world is again facing the threat of genocide. Much like Rwanda twenty years ago, sectarian violence is ravaging a small, largely unheard of country, The Central African Republic (CAR). Over two days in December, Amnesty International estimated that approximately 1,000 people were killed in the capital city of Bangui. Additionally, estimates indicate that more than 2,000 people have killed; victims are being raped, lynched, cannibalized, and hacked to death in the village streets and millions have fled their homes.
According to BBC News and UN reports, the violence is now largely retaliatory attacks between two religious rebel groups. Seleka (meaning “union”), a predominantly Muslim group, and the Anti-balaka (meaning “anti-sword”), a Christian faction, have the country on a downward spiraling toward genocide.
Fighting erupted December 2012 with Seleka successfully overthrowing the Government in March 2013. Seleka leader Michel Djotodia declared himself President, dissolving the former Government of Francois Bozize. Facing significant political pressure Djotodia formally disbanded Seleka in September 2013; however the rebel groups refused and turned their focus on the majority Christian citizens leading to the creation of the Anti-balaka and the horrific killing of Muslim citizens.
The UN Security Council has twice authorized use of force to quell the violence and protect civilians by any means necessary. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, has opened an investigation into the atrocities in the CAR citing the reports of “extreme brutality by various groups”.
With the CAR descending into complete chaos, will the international community say collectively we will allow these atrocities to continue, or will we repeat the errors of Rwanda and simply go on with our daily lives?
