What Is Happening In The Central African Republic?

In a word, genocide.

While nearly everyone has heard about the holocaust, few people know, in the last ten years, roughly 7.5 million people have been slaughtered on the African continent.  In Rwanda, for example, 800,000 people were hacked to death over a 100 day period while the world stood by and watched.

According to Reuters, the number of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) has sharply increased this month.  Violence continues to rip through the country as refugees pour into Cameroon.  Since the beginning of February a total of 19,565 refugees from CAR have crossed into Cameroon to escape violence perpetrated by the former Seleka and anti-Balaka militiamen in Bangui and other towns in north-western CAR.

Al Jazeera photo

The Seleka are Muslims, many from Chad, who convinced local Muslim tribal members to cooperate in terrorizing the primarily Christian population.  A long time defense force called the anti-Balaka, or anit-machete, militia formed ranks and ousted the Muslim leader.  It is tit for tat, now, with anti-Balaka and Seleka militants attacking each other.

It is naive and erroneous to see the disputes in Africa as "tribal".  At the heart of nearly every dispute is something more sinister, and the symbol of nearly every loving relationship: Diamonds.  Minerals from many African countries including diamonds are used to pay for weapons.  Outside interests are able to gain control of some of the rich resources in Africa.  A continent that should be full of wealthy people is full of casualties of war.

The United Nations was set up specifically to address the matter of genocide after the Holocaust.  However, when aid was requested in Rwanda, the U.N. failed to act, and along with it, U.N. member nations including the United States of America.  After the truth came out about the massacre, the U.N. became more pro-active.  French troops have been recently deployed in the C.A.R. which is a former French protectorate with the blessing of the U.N.  However, Muslim refugees claim the French are terrorizing them.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

In Cameroon, Djerassem Mbaiorem on mobile +237 90 16 06 08 In Geneva, Babar Baloch on mobile +41 79 557 9106

Sources for this story include Reuters, Al Jazeera, VICE TV.